Political Violence in the United States: Apocalyptic ...
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Master's Theses Graduate College
4-1999
Political Violence in the United States: Apocalyptic Typologies of Political Violence in the United States: Apocalyptic Typologies of
Left and Right Wing Political Groups and Their Violence through Left and Right Wing Political Groups and Their Violence through
the Period 1990-1997 the Period 1990-1997
Gordon Daniel Green
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POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES: APOCALYPTIC TYPOLOGIES OF LEFT AND RIGHT WING POLITICAL GROUPS
AND THEIR VIOLENCE THROUGH THE PERIOD 1990-1997
by
Gordon Daniel Green
A Thesis Submitted to the
Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
Department of Political Science
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan
April 1999
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to first acknowledge the support and patience of my best friend
and love, Linda. Secondly, I thank my family: mother and father for a lifetime of
support, my sister who's next for this honor, my grandparents for their
encouragement and guidance.
I would like to thank Dr. Kevin Corder for allowing me to take on this
unusual and unique subject matter, and Dr. Pete Renstrom and Dr. John Clark for
their willingness to explore this area also. I would like to acknowledge the assistance
of Ron Arnold who guided me in the right direction during the genesis of this work,
and Chip Berlet and Dr. J. Gordon Melton for reassuring me that my findings were
not as far off as one might believe.
I also need to thank Sharon Lau of the National Abortion Federation, Amy
Solomon of the Anti-Defamation League, and Nancy O'Meara of the Cult Awareness
Network. Thanks also need to go out to fellow "Freepers" for showing me how these
groups can affect everyday people's lives, on both sides.
Lastly, I need to thank the inspiring work of those in this field that I have yet
to meet. Dr. Jeffrey Kaplan, whose call for a similar examination guided me to do this
paper, Dr. Michael Barkun, Dr. Martha Lee, and Dr. Catherine Wessinger, for their
intriguing work in this area. I look forward to meeting them one day.
Gordon Daniel Green
11
POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STA TES: APOCALYPTIC TYPOLOGIES OF LEFT AND RIGHT WING POLITICAL GROUPS
AND THEIR VIOLENCE THROUGH THE PERIOD 1990-1997
Gordon Daniel Green, M.A.
Western Michigan University, 1999
Historically the study of apocalyptic groups has occupied the "exotic fringe"
of political science (Flanagan 1996). With the use of textual analysis, historical
description, and participant observation as its main research methods, there has been
little progress made in the study of these groups. By using data analysis of incidents
of violence to compare the violent actions of apocalyptic groups, a better
understanding of reasons for the use of violence by these groups can be found.
Six apocalyptic groups are studied and categorized into a typology of
apocalypticism. The Rescue Movement and End-Times Religious occupy the
Supernatural type, Militia/Patriot and Anti-Industrialfl'echnology occupy the
Unnatural, and the Radical Environmental and Animal Rights occupy the Natural.
Data on violence are then examined to find relations across and between
groups. What emerges from this examination is support for the concept of imminence
as a possible factor in determining violence. This imminence is not that of salvation
(Cohn 1970) or attainment (Taylor 1991) but of the apocalypse itself.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION
Description of the Typology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. .
Description of Data ...................................... .
Research Questions, Limitations and Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .
II. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................... .
Academic Literature ..................................... .
1
6
8
12
15
16
Literature With an Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
III. TYPOLOGY OF APOCALYPTIC GROUPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Supernatural Apocalyptic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Rescue Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
End-Times Religious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Unnatural Apocalyptic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Militia/Patriot Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Anti-Industrialffechnology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Natural Apocalyptic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Radical Environmental Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Animal Rights Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
111
Table of Contents-Continued
CHAPTER
Similarities of the Apocalyptic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Overcoming the Cross-typing Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
IV. VIOLENT INCIDENTS FOR APOCALYPTIC GROUPS . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Focus on Destruction of Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Militia/Patriot Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Overview of End-Times and Anti-Industrial Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
V. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Results for Research Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Importance oflmminence on Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Future Research and Broader Implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
NOTES ....................................................... 101
APPENDICES
A. Definitions for Groups 104
B. Definitions for Violent Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
C. Eight Points of Deep Ecology .................................. 108
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
IV
LIST OF TABLES
1. Division of Political Groups Into Their Apocalyptic Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2. End-Times Interpretations of Organizations/Ideas/People/Countries . . . . . 40
3. Militia/Patriot Interpretations of Organizations/Ideas/People/Countries . . . 44
4. Incidents of Violence for Apocalyptic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
5. State Rankings by Incident and Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6. Low Population\High Frequency Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
7. Incidents of Violence by Year for Rescue Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
8. Incidents of Violence by Year for Radical Environmental Groups . . . . . . . 83
9. Incidents of Violence by Year for Animal Rights Groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
10. Incidents of Violence by Year for Militia/Patriot Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
V
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Apocalyptic Typology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2. Apocalyptic Typology Revised. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
3. Total Incidents by Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4. 1995 Total Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
5. 1994 Total Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
6. 1996 Total Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
7. Militia/Patriot Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
8. Animal Rights Groups Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
9. Rescue Movement Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
10. Radical Environmental Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
11. Radical Environmental Detailed Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
12. Animal Rights Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
13. Militia/Patriot Incidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Vl
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This thesis is a comparative examination of violent acts of a diverse grouping
of apocalyptic/millenarian political groups in the United States from 1990-1997.
Catherine Wessinger suggests that "apocalypticism is a readily recognizable and
useful synonym for the millennialism that expects catastrophe" (1997, 50). It is for
this reason that apocalyptic will be used throughout the rest of this text, rather than
the broad millenarian or millennial, to describe these groups.
Since the April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building, there has been a tremendous growth in the attention paid to right
wing groups and their violence. The renewed activities of the Unabomber and the
resulting publication of his manifesto gave us some insight into the anti-industrial left.
The sniper attack of abortion provider Dr. Barnett Slepian on October 23, 1998 has
brought abortion protesters continued attention. The October 18, 1998 arson of the
Two Elk Lodge and other ski facilities, claimed by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF),
brought the radical environmental movement into the spotlight. What is little
discussed in the media, and even in academic research, are the similarities between
the apocalyptic belief systems of these groups and individuals. These similarities will
be examined within a typology of apocalypticism. Some have gone so far as to openly
call for the need of examining "the remarkable similarity of Earth First! (an
apocalyptic Radical Environmental group) to other, particularly right-wing radical
movements, and more thorough discussion of Earth First!'s use of violence" (Kaplan
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1996a, 182). This piece will expand on that concern by creating a typology of
apocalypticism and collecting data on violent acts committed by these groups to
determine if there is any correlation between this typology and levels, or types of
violence used.
There has been much research examining the violence of one apocalyptic
group or another (Barkun 1996, 1997b; Durham 1996; Gallagher 1997; Hall and
Schuyler 1997; Kaplan 1995; M. Mullins 1997; Nice 1988). There has also been
research focused on the apocalyptic beliefs of groups with minimal focus on violence
(Lamy 1997; Lee 1995, 1997). There has been research comparing apocalyptic
groups on the same side of the political spectrum (Kaplan 1997b). Research
comparing the whole spectrum of Left and Right-wing violence, without any
discussion of apocalyptic beliefs, was done by L. Brent Smith in Terrorism in
America: Pipe Bombs and Pipe Dreams (1994). This strictly criminological approach
left out many of the violent incidents of these groups. Smith deliberately excluded
acts not classified as domestic terrorism by the federal government. This examination
will attempt to put together all of the above approaches in an effort to categorize and
document the extent of violence committed by these various apocalyptic political
groups, and determine any relation between the nature of their apocalypticism and
violence.
The six groups examined in this paper represent a unique cross-section of
New Social Movements (NSM). Each of these NSMs has an apocalyptic component
to their belief system. All of these groups, in their broader context, have tried to
influence the three areas of public policy, the policy process and social values seen as
necessary to succeed as a social movement (Rochar and Mannanian 1993). The
particular groups examined in this work have now resorted to violence in an attempt
2
to change social values. Rochar and Marmanian write that these NSMs attempt to
"redefine the political agenda" (1993, 77) through their targeting society rather than
the government for change. These six groups work in this fashion by using violence
to gamer attention for their apocalyptic messages. Herbert Kitshelt (1993) identifies
the rise ofNSMs from aggrieved groups unable work in the political process. NSMs
challenge the social order on (a) the ideological level, (b) unconventionalpolitical
action, and (c) organizational structure (decentralized participatory decision-making)
(Dalton, Kuechler, and Burklin 1990). For apocalyptic groups this occurs by (a)
apocalyptic worldview, (b) direct violent actions, and (c) small group organization
(cell structure, "Leaderless Resistance"). These apocalyptic groups, rather than
working within the political system, seek to change the social values of society
through providing information and gaining attention through violence.
Dalton et al. (1990) explain how different approaches interpret the creation of
these NSMs. The relative depravation approach, in which one's economic situation
leads to violence, is not right for these apocalyptic groups. While the Militia/Patriot
groups focus on the international bankers behind the scenes of a vast conspiracy, they
do not focus on economic hardship as a reason to strike back. Their focus is more on
a loss of Constitutional freedom or national sovereignty. The rational choice
perspective is even less promising in that there is little private gain to be had from
engaging in violence. All of these groups see a higher cause for their actions, not for
their personal benefit. One useful concept that can be borrowed from the rational
choice approach is the idea of zero-sum conflict.
The idea of conflict resulting from a zero-sum game tits these groups ideally.
Because these groups have a Manichaen worldview, in which there is only good and
evil, they see everything as a zero-sum game. Because they see themselves as
3
representing good, any time those they oppose "win" they see that as a "loss" for
them. There is no possible scenario for a non-zero sum game in a Manichaen
worldview. This leads to head-to-head conflict between the forces of good (the
apocalyptic) and evil (those opposed to them; government, business, mainstream
culture, interest groups, etc.).
Anthony Oberschall (1973), in the relation between social conflict and social
movements, discussed how this process works. Oberschall stated, "conflict is going
to be more bitter, more intense, and more difficult to regulate and settle in situations
with outcomes corresponding to zero-sum games" (1973, 53). This conflict is
intensified by the use of symbols and principles and is less easily settled (Oberschall
1973). These groups have principles that are set in stone and due to their Manichaen
nature due not allow any room for compromise. To compromise is to go from being
on the side of good to the side of evil.
While these groups do not represent the typical groups of focus for political
science, they are important in the effect they have. Dalton et al. (1990) note that
these types of groups are able to transform society in a short period of time. This
ability to rapidly change society is something that should be considered when it
comes to the political process and how one is able to influence it either directly
(public policy process) or indirectly (changing social values). Ted Daniels (1999)
argues these groups are political because "[s]tories of the millennium are political, in
the sense that they are concerned with relations of power" Among the concepts of
politics "[t]here is no doubt that power holds a significant place" (Isaak 1985, 93),
making apocalyptic groups worthy of study in relation to this concept. In addition,
apocalyptic groups are ideal examples of how conflict can occur, and become violent,
when that conflict is perceived as zero-sum.
4
Thomas Flanagan ( 1996) gives a broader reason for the examination of
millenarian groups by political scientists. Flanagan identifies the monistic and dualistic
natures of millenarians. Monistic in the sense that they look to a future when society
will not involve any conflicts, dualistic in the sense that they see the present society as
conflict between good and evil. These two characteristics are in direct conflict with
pluralism, which in a broad sense, is used to describe group activity by political
scientists (Flanagan 1996, 172). Flanagan notes that political scientists take for
granted that (a) all societies are divided by interests and ideology, (b) coalition
building is part of the struggle for political power, and ( c) there is no end to the
political process as these coalitions dissolve and re-form (1996, 173). Flanagan states
that:
[f]rom this perspective, millenarian movements are not exotic fringe phenomena but an intrinsic aspect of politics in complex societies ... they stress the interests of the whole and interpret the unedifying conflicts of pluralism as a temporary disorder to be wished away or overcome once and for all. (1996, 173-74)
For Flanagan, millenarian groups are "equally rooted in the nature of politics" (1996,
174) because of their monistic and dualistic natures.
For those who study millenarian/apocalyptic groups, this study provides that
which is lacking in other studies. Flanagan identifies the main research methods of
apocalyptic studies as "historical description, and textual analysis, occasionally
supplemented by participant observation" (1996, 164). My approach is an
examination of contemporary groups with a focus on textual analysis of primary
source material of apocalyptic groups. This textual analysis is done in the attempt to
create a typology of apocalypticism. By creating this typology, I will then attempt to
see if this typology offers any insight into why apocalyptic groups engage in violent
actions. Using data on violence, an approach previously lacking in millenarian/
5
apocalyptic studies, some insight into these groups and their violence will be gained.
With these data, the possibility arises to see if there are similarities between groups in
their approaches to violence. Through textual analysis and data analysis we will see
differences and similarities of these six apocalyptic groups.
I must briefly explain how this approach will differ from what may initially
seem to be a reassessment of Smith's work, described on page 2, above. This
approach will look at far more incidents of violence than Smith. Smith intentionally
limited his research to those acts "officially designated" as terrorism by the FBI. This
was done by Smith in order to avoid "adopt[ing] a definition ... that reflect[s] the
ideological beliefs of the researcher'' (Smith 1994, 3). This is a worthy reason to
exclude numerous incidents, but it may not necessarily give one the entire scope of
the problem caused by some of these groups, or others related to them, not defined
as "terrorism" by the FBI. It is important to examine all incidents of violence from
these groups, in order to understand the violent nature of apocalyptic groups. It is
hypothesized that this typology may help in understanding why these groups engage
in violence.
Description of the Typology
The typology of the apocalyptic beliefs of these groups is based on the nature
of the apocalypse these groups focus on. This typology is based on three possible
apocalypses, as seen by these groups. These three types are Supernatural, Unnatural
and Natural. A Supernatural apocalypse involves a catastrophe that, due to groups
involved in this research, is a direct result of an intervention from the Judeo-Christian
God. The Branch Davidians and the Rescue Movement are examples of these
Supernatural groups. These groups see a direct destruction of the world, from God,
6
unless ways are changed. Often these groups may overlap with those of an Unnatural
nature (Barkun 1996; Gallagher 1997).
An Unnatural apocalypse would involve a social, political, or economic
catastrophe. This can be a loss of political freedom or influence, religious freedom,
national identity, or "Constitutional Rights." Phillip Lamy (1997) describes these as
the "secular" millennialists. These "secular" millennialists believe the "Apocalypse
will most likely be man-made-brought about by social, economic, or industrial
collapse, environmental degradation, race war, civil war, or nuclear war" (Lamy
1997, 94). However, not all of these "man-made" disasters will necessarily fit into the
Unnatural type for this research. Environmental degradation would be under Natural,
and race war is not considered, as will be discussed later.
A Natural Apocalypse involves a naturally occurring catastrophe. This
catastrophe could be an earthquake, volcanic eruption, comet/asteroid, loss of natural
land, global warming or extinction of species. As with the previous two typologies,
there is some overlap from the Natural to the Supernatural (Arnold 1997; Lee 1995;
Taylor 1999). Despite this circular appearance, Chapter ill will refine these
distinctions more clearly. Examination of primary source material, journalist research,
watchdog research, and academic research will be used to refine these distinctions.
Within each of these typologies are groups and individuals that attempt to
work within the political system for change. However, these apocalyptic beliefs also
can lead to an affinity for violence for some. Some may come to their violence as a
result of their frustration with the progress of mainstream political activist groups,
such as Radical Environmental groups (Lee 1995). Others engage in it because of a
sense of necessity (Defensive Action Statement 1993; Second Defensive Action
Statement 1994) or because their actions are "right" and carry out "justice" (The
7
Final Nail #2 1998). For every apocalyptic group that just watches because
"watching is what millenarians do best" (Kaplan 1997b, 168), there are those that
choose not to wait and act out their apocalyptic beliefs violently (Wessinger 1994).
Description of Data
The expression of the groups' apocalyptic beliefs is essential to the acts of
violence to be examined. Acts of violence included in the data set are homicides,
assaults, bombings, arson, thefts (robbery/burglary), vandalism (sabotage), weapons
charges, or any attempts of these. These acts are defined in Appendix A. The
expression of a group's political beliefs, through violence, is determined if one of the
following criteria is met:
1. An activist group takes credit for an act.
2. An individual(s) takes credit for an act as an expression of their political
agenda, e.g., the Unabomber and his Manifesto.
3. An individual(s) is involved actively in one of these political activist groups
when committing an act of violence.
4. The target of an incident is perceived as a political entity or opposes the
individual's/group's agenda, such as the IRS (political entity) or animal research lab
or lumber company ( act to oppose the agenda of animal rights or environmental
groups).
Acts of violence, committed by selected apocalyptic groups, that fit within
these four categories will be included in the statistical analysis. This definition would
exclude, for example, Robert Brinson's humorous miscalculation. Mr. Brinson was
charged in Halifax in May of 1995 with attempting to use a fertilizer bomb to blow
up his ex-girlfriend and her family. Mr. Brinson was confused and used potting soil
8
instead of fertilizer for his bomb (Stem 1996, 209). This incident would reflect a
domestic dispute, not a violent expression of his political beliefs.
The statistical data for these acts will not only rely on those individuals
convicted of crimes, but also those that take credit for specific acts. Sources for these
data will include some governmental sources, right-wing and left-wing watchdog
groups, those on the left and right that openly take responsibility for acts, and news
media accounts of acts committed. These data will be broken down into the following
categories: (a) date of incident; (b) location of incident (state, city if available); (c)
organization affiliation (Earth Liberation Front, Michigan Militia, etc.); (d) type of
incident (from the violent acts in Appendix A), which may include multiple types of
violence in one incident, such as an arson and theft at one location; and (e)
miscellaneous detailed information of the incident.
Although many groups overlap in their messages, and individuals may belong
to or follow the beliefs of more than one group, an attempt will be made to place
each act within one of the following groups. The groups on the left to be examined
will include: (a) Animal Rights groups, (b) Radical Environmental groups, and (c)
Anti-Industrialffechnology groups. The groups on the right are: (a) Militia/Patriot
groups, (b) the Rescue Movement, and ( c) End-times Religious groups. Definitions
for these groups and how they are working against the political system can be found
in Appendix B. Table 1 reflects where these groups fit into the apocalyptic typology.
These groups represent the current extremes of the right (End-Times, Rescue
Movement, and Militia/Patriot) and left (Anti-Industrial, Radical Environmental, and
Animal Rights) wings of the political spectrum. These groups also have, to one
degree or another, beliefs in an imminent apocalypse that can only be stopped, or for
some helped along, as a result of their violent actions. These groups are not all-
9
Table 1
Division of Political Groups Into Their Apocalyptic Type
Type of Apocalypse
Supernatural Unnatural Natural
End-Times Radical
Religious Militia/Patriot Groups Environmental
Groups Groups
Rescue Movement Anti- Animal Rights
Industrial/f echnology Groups
encompassing of apocalyptic political groups in the United States. There are some
groups not included in this research for various reasons.
Racist/anti-Semitic groups will not be included in this examination. Racist/
anti-Semitic groups; such as Christian Identity, Aryan Nations, or the KKK, differ
from the above groups in the desired outcome of their actions. These groups,
although believing in a coming apocalyptic Race War (Barium 1997a, 1997b; Whitsel
199 5), do not seek to change the beliefs, ideology or actions of the rest of society.
They seek only to change those of white or "Aryan" members of society. The above
groups are not as discriminating in who they are trying to influence, or if they are, it
is by choice. Racist/anti-Semitic groups cannot accomplish this change of politics
because there is no way to change the characteristics of those they target. A racist
cannot change a black man to white, nor change a Jew into a Gentile. Christian
Identity sees the Jewish conspiracy, to take over the United States, as "genetic"
(Kaplan 1997b, 5). This belief does not allow for the same types of changes desired
by the groups considered in this work.
10
This is not to say that racist/anti-Semites may not be involved in some of the
observations in these data. The Oklahoma City bombing is one incident not included
in these data. There is significant evidence that Timothy Mc Veigh was in contact with
a white separatist compound, Elohim City, shortly before the attack (Evans-Pritchard
1997). The bombing of an abortion clinic in Atlanta January 16, 1997, linked to Eric
Rudolph, charged with the 1996 Olympic Park bombings, is another example.
Rudolph was raised within the Christian Identity movement. The abortion clinic
bombing will not be included in the data because of this connection to Christian
Identity. The Olympic Park bombing will not be included for the same reason. For
many of these racist/anti-Semitic groups their hatred of government is based on their
belief that the government is taken over by Jews, and those who do their bidding. For
these groups the federal government is knows as ZOG or Zionist Occupational
Government (Dees and Corcoran 1996; Barlam 1997a). Where possible these
individuals will not be included in the data. Incidents such as the widely seen video of
Cheyne and Chevie Kehoe shootout with law enforcement in Ohio, and the string of
bank robberies in the Midwest by the Aryan Republican Army (Vigilante Justice
1997), will not be included. This paper will attempt to remove this element where
possible, because they do not adequately meet the requirements for attempting to
influence the "political process," but rather a desire that which cannot be had in this
society, an "Aryan Nation." An "Aryan Nation" does not fit into the definition of
politics given, i.e., influencing beliefs, actions or ideology of members of society.
11
Research Questions, Limitations and Assumptions
Despite the difficulty presented when these racist/anti-Semitic groups
crossover into groups to be examined, there are several questions that are answered
by this research.
1. Does the type of apocalypse foreseen by a group correlate with the level of
violence?
2. Does the type of apocalypse correlate with the same types of violence, i.e.,
do those who foresee a natural apocalypse engage in similar types of violence?
3. Are the quantity of incidents increasing or decreasing for any of these
groups?
4. Do these groups concentrate in certain areas of the country, e.g., higher
incidents of violence correlated with higher state population?
The answers to these questions will provide some insight into these
apocalyptic political groups and their use of violence to change the political system of
the United States.
The answer to these questions depends on a few assumptions. One
assumption is that separating out racist/anti-Semitic groups from Militia/Patriot
groups will not have a detrimental effect on the results of the research. Much of the
literature combines these groups to one extent or another (Abanes l 996� Barlam
1997a, 1997b� Durham 1996� Scheinberg 1997). This problem will, hopefully, be
overcome by looking at the individual incidents and determining if the action was
done because of any racial/anti-Semitic meaning to it. Another assumption is that by
taking a more thorough approach in examining incidents of violence, as opposed to
Smith's restrictive criminology approach, the high level of the violence can be seen in
12
these apocalyptic political groups. It is essential, from a political science perspective,
to see the entire scope of the problem these groups could have on the political
structure of the United States, particularly as we approach the millenium.
While these assumptions are required, by choice, the limitations of this
research are not necessarily by choice. Access to data on all possible incidents is
nearly impossible. Radical Environmental violence is often underreported (Arnold
1997) as well as Animal Rights Violence (Report to Congress on the Extent and
Effects ofDomestic and International Terrorism on Animal Enterprises 1993).
Another limitation is that various factions within groups may not adhere to the same
apocalyptic mindset. Some in the Militia/Patriot movement strictly see the workings
of the world, in regards to the undermining of the nation, as the direct hand of God at
work (Barkun 1996b; Gallagher 1997). This research will rely on the visible
machinations of the religious as reflecting an "Unnatural Apocalypse," distinguishing
it from the Supernatural which would be a more direct "Hand of God "apocalypse,
i.e., the Passover in ancient Egypt (New Open Bible 1990, Exodus 12:3-28).
Further research would be able to differentiate between these two factions
and determine how these two influence each other in regards to violence, and
distinguishing between the two typologies. This is the biggest limitation of the
research. The possible crossover of groups among typologies is likely and may bias
the results systematically. Individuals engaging in violence not necessarily because of
any apocalyptic beliefs, rather because they are prone to violence and this is how they
express this tendency, is another limitation of this expansive approach. These
limitations should not impact the results of this paper due to the size of the data.
In order to understand these groups, I will first examine their apocalyptic
beliefs. Chapter II will examine current academic literature, watchdog/investigative
13
literature and primary source material to understand their apocalyptic nature. Chapter
ill will examine these apocalyptic beliefs in more detail. Similarities of groups will be
noted within the defining of the typology in Chapter ill. Chapter IV will look into the
data of violent incidents for these groups from 1990-1997. Results of the data will be
presented and discussed. Any correlation between groups and data will be examined.
Similarities and differences in types of incidents, within or across typologies will be
discussed. Implications of the results will be examined in Chapter V. Research
questions will be answered and discussed. Effectiveness of the typology in identifying
types of incidents, growth of types over time and area as well as any other
explanatory variables for patterns of violence observed. Possible impact of these
groups in the future will be considered. Where this research can go from this point on
will be considered. The conclusion offers an assessment of what further research
needs to be done, what problems arose, and what new was learned.
14
CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
There are two different approaches to the study of apocalyptic groups in the
literature. One set, academic, is tightly focused, for the most part, on one group and
their beliefs and/or violent nature. The other set is general and self-serving, reflecting
the political agenda of its author(s). All too often it is this second set of writings, and
its authors, that are relied on to inform the public. 1
The need has arisen for academia
to become the source for information on apocalyptic political groups, especially with
the arrival of the millenium. The public needs to know that the violent threat posed
by these apocalyptic groups is not just from one or the other, but from all of them. As
Catherine Wessinger states, "[educating the public] cannot be left to the many 'highly
respected cult experts' who leap to the task to further their own anti-cult agenda"
(1994, 60). Wessinger is referring to the result of the Branch Davidian tragedy in
Waco incident, in which the FBI followed the advice of these "experts." Wessinger
(1998) describes that academia is better equipped to advise law enforcement and the
public on these groups because of the lack of an agenda. Wessinger points to the
successful end of the Freemen standoff in 1997 as proof for the success of academic
advisement.
To show why the term apocalyptic is used, rather than the more common
millenarian or millennial, we must first examine the meaning of these words. The
word millenarian is derived from the Latin "millenarius, from milleni, a thousand
each" (Microsoft 1994). This refers to a thousand years time span or a "doctrine of
15
the millenium" (Microsoft 1994). Millenarianism and millennia/ism are used
interchangeably throughout the literature, and will be here. Apocalyptic, or
apocalypticism, on the other hand comes from the Greek apokalupsis meaning
revelation. This revelation, particularly as it refers to the Biblical Apocalypse
(Revelation) of John, is defined as one of "great or total devastation; doom"
(Microsoft 1994). The original Greek meaning is little used; rather the second
meaning has become the norm. This second meaning of apocalypse, or
apocalypticism, is what will be used, because of its distinguishing specificity from
millenarian or millennial.
Academic Literature
One of the problem areas in the studies of apocalyptic groups, and millennial
or millenarian, is the multitude of terms used to describe these groups. Catherine
Wessinger suggests that "scholars need to abandon the obscure terms
premillennialism and postmillennialism" (1997, 48) and replace these with
catastrophic millennialism and progressive millennialism. She suggests this needs to
be done in order for scholars to "communicate with the general public about
millennialism" (1997, 48). Premillennialism refers to a "pessimistic expectation" that
a "catastrophe caused by divine intervention" will destroy the world in order to bring
about the "millennial salvation" (Wessinger 1997, 49). Postmillennialism refers to an
"optimistic expectation" that humans working "according to a divine plan" will bring
this millennial salvation (Wessinger 1997, 49) .. Wessinger suggests that these
references to religion do not fit in with the various millennial groups that exist today.
In order to overcome this problem, Wessinger (1997) suggests using
catastrophic millennialism and progressive millennialism to help in educating the
16
public. This education of the public is particularly important because of"[r]ecent
violent events involving millennial groups and the approach of the year 2000" (1997,
55). Wessinger identifies catastrophic millennialism as the predominant form. This
form sees evil as being "rampant and things are getting worse all the time" (1997,
49). Within her discussion of this form she states the current use of apocalypticism
(my usage) is a "recognizable and useful synonym" (1997, 50) for catastrophic
millennialism. Wessinger contrasts this with progressive millennialism, which is a
"belief in progress" (1997, 50). This beliefinvolves "human cooperation with divine
(or superhuman) will" to bring about the millenium "noncatastrophically" (Wessinger
1997, 50-51). Wessinger suggests the use of the terms in place of the confusing, and
religious based, premillennialism and postmillennialism. Since some of these groups
are non-religious oriented, the use of apocalyptic to describe them will, hopefully,
result in less confusion than some of the other terminology.
The use of apocalyptic, in discussion of violent tendencies, is seen in Martha
Lee's (1995) examination of the environmental group Earth First!. Lee distinguishes
between two factions of Earth First!: the apocalyptic and the millenarian or social
justice faction. Millenarian, in her use, is a specific identifier. What would be more
helpful would be fitting it into the progressive millennial category, designated by
Wessinger. Both the apocalyptic and social justice factions see an eventual
environmental catastrophe. The difference drawn by these groups is what happens
after the catastrophe: the creation of a better world.
The better world for the social justice faction involves the educating of people
to insure that those that survive the catastrophe will not let this happen again. The
apocalyptics, representing a biocentric view of the world in which humans are not the
center but nature is, are concerned with the "events and earthly conditions leading up
17
to the apocalypse" (Lee 1995, 18). They are not concerned with human life surviving,
but may even be intent on "ensuring particular conditions are met ... [for] the
apocalypse to occur'' (Lee 1995, 19). Both groups agree on the catastrophe bringing
the possibility of a better world, but only one sees humans as a part of it.
This better world or "radically different" "new order," as Maxwell Taylor
(1991, 133) would call it, is essential to a millenarian belief Taylor applies this aspect
of millenarianism to his study of fanaticism. Taylor identifies five qualities of
millenarianism: ( 1) "An analysis of the world in terms of a real or impending
catastrophe"; (2) "A revelation that explains this state of affairs, and which offers
some form of salvation"; (3) "Special knowledge that the disastrous state is a result
of the action of malevolent forces (spiritual or secular) which conspire to corrupt and
subject the normal organs of society and State"; (4) "A sense of timeliness or action";
and ( 5) "These forces can be defeated . . . [ and] will result in the ushering in of a new
and better world" {Taylor, 1991, 121). Taylor identifies that the "concept of
imminence of attainment" is essential to a millenarian becoming violent (Taylor 1991,
127). This imminence in the modem day can be said to be magnified by the arrival of
the year 2000, not just from millenarian groups (Barkun 1994, 48) but from what
Michael Barkun calls "eclectic millenarianism" {1996b, 8). One need only listen to the
Art Bell radio show Coast to Coast to see how this eclectic millenarianism operates.
The year 2000 is a drawing point for apocalyptic groups {Thompson 1996) regardless
of the religious or secular nature of the group.
Phillip Lamy (1997) notes the dichotomous nature of millenarian groups in his
division of"secular'' and "religious" millenarian groups. Lamy identifies the "secular"
Apocalypse as being one that is "man-made" (1997, 94). While noting that it includes
such things as "social, economic, or industrial collapse" and "race war, civil war, or
18
nuclear war," Lamy includes "environmental degradation" among those that are man
made (1997, 94). I would argue that the focus of millenarian groups is on the
apocalypse itself and any concerns about the environment would place a group in the
Natural category. This allows the differentiation of groups that would fall in the
secular category but are not necessarily related. As Lee puts it, "[a]pocalyptics are
concerned only with the events and earthly conditions leading up to the apocalypse,
the climactic and dramatic event that they believe will soon bring about the end of
human history'' (Lee 1995, 18-19). These "events and earthly conditions," I would
argue, are the actual "physical" signs of the environmental degradation, not
necessarily the "human" causes of it. This is partly due to the environment having as
big an impact on itself as human actions, e.g., volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
hurricanes, tsunamis, etc. Rather than focusing on the human interactions with the
apocalypse or human causes of the apocalypse, the nature of the apocalypse is
essential when it comes to determining violence. It is the catastrophe that is
imminent, not the physical machinations causing the catastrophe.
The concept of imminence, in academic works, is seen as important for
apocalyptic groups (Barkun 1997a; Bromley 1997; Cohn ·1990; Durham 1996; Lee
1995; Robbins and Palmer 1997; Wessinger 1997) as well as primary source material
(Baker 1993; James 1998; Jeffrey 1994; Lindsey 1995; Earth First! Direct Action
Philosophy; Operation Vampire Killer 2000). Imminence, as previously pointed out
by Taylor, is an essential characteristic of violence in millenarian groups. But what
appears to be little focused on is the nature of what is imminent.
Norman Cohn (1990) in his seminal work The Pursuit of the Millenium,
describes the importance of imminence in terms of the salvation that is to come. This
is not necessarily the ideal approach when we consider that the catastrophic
19
millennialists or apocalyptics are not concerned with salvation but rather the
apocalypse itself The catastrophe, whether it be "ecocide" (Scarce 1990, 10), the
New World Order (Epperson 1990), or Armageddon (Breese 1996), is what is
imminent, and would seem to impact the use of violence. For this study it is not
possible to categorically determine that imminence explains decisions to use violence,
but imminence of the catastrophe in primary source material could show that it is an
important part of these groups' violent nature.
Imminence in this sense could be seen as a "motivating factor'' for the
violence. Frank Hagan notes, "[I]t is not the crimes themselves that distinguish
political criminals but rather their motivations" (1997, 2), contrasting with Smith's
strict criminological approach. The imminence of the catastrophe can be said to
motivate the violence, whether it be to avoid the catastrophe (Animal Rights Groups)
or to bring on the catastrophe (apocalyptic faction of Earth First!). We will see in
Chapter IV how this concept of imminence may be a determining factor in the
frequency of violence attributed to the apocalyptic groups examined. The imminence
of the apocalyptic belief system is reinforced by the conspiratorial worldview
attributed to these contemporary apocalyptic groups examined in this work.
Martin Durham, in his discussion of the Militia/Patriot movement, describes
how incidents such as Ruby Ridge, Waco, the 1993 Brady Bill, and the 1994 ban on
assault weapons "fit into a larger conspiratorial picture" (Durham 1996, 69). This
picture includes foreign troops in the U.S., concentration camps built for "American
prisoners" (Koernke 1993; L. Thompson 1994 ). All of these actions have occurred in
order to bring about the takeover of a "one-world government, the New World
Order." In "Common Features of Extremism's Ugly Face," H. Clayton Waddell
( 1972) states that one of the five features of an extremist is that any opposition is
20
seen as a conspiracy. The use of conspiracies is prevalent throughout all of the
groups examined in this work, although the Right has a longer history of this
(Hofstadter [1965] 1996). Conspiracies in a sense reinforce the imminence of the
catastrophe. For every item or incident that is added to the puzzle of the conspiracy,
the catastrophe can be made to appear nearer and nearer. One need only look at any
of the newsgroups or discussion forums on the Internet to see this occurring on an
almost daily basis.
Michael Barkun goes further into this aspect of conspiracies in his
examination of militias. These conspiracies may have a secular cover to them but
often cover up "close and direct religious associations" (Barkun 1996b, 50). Barkun
goes as far as to say there are two intersecting visions of conspiracy for militias: "One
secular, with its apparatus of black helicopters and detention camps, the other
religious, with its fixation upon the beast and its mark. Each reinforces the other"
(Barkun 1996b, 5 8). This use of conspiracies is part of what Lamy ( 1997) referred to
as the "millennial myth" (1997, 103). This myth allows for "adaptation to change and
its ability to mirror the experiences of many different groups" (Lamy 1997, 114). This
millennial myth can be used for any purpose. It can be used to "justify or legitimate a
cause" whether that cause be "ideological and social control" or "social and political
revolt" (Lamy 1997, 114). Conspiracies, as they are used to explain government
"oppression," is not the sole property of the right.
Much of the literature written about Right-wing groups, and their
conspiracies, have come from those in journalism (Dyer 1997) or from those that
oppose the Right (Berlet and Lyons 1998; Coates 1987; de Armond 1998; Dees and
Corcoran 1996; Stem 1996). All, for one reason or another, tie modem
Militia/Patriot conspiracies in with those from racist/anti-Semitic groups past and
21
present, or into the mainstream conservative and/or religious movement. All too
often, and unnecessarily, these writings attempt a "connect the dots" strategy to
attack right-wing groups. It is this valuable, but agenda driven, literature that we will
examine next.
Literature With an Agenda
Jeffrey Kaplan criticizes agenda-driven "watchdog" groups in Radical
Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of
Noah (1997b). Kaplan refers to "Political" anti-cult groups which act to further their
political agenda. This approach to cults works similarly for many of the political
groups that "monitor" these violent groups. This agenda driven literature is occupied,
for this review, by works of those that oppose the actions of these apocalyptic
groups. Members of"watchdog" organizations or journalists often create these
works. These works present some problems in the current literature on these groups.
The "connect the dots" strategy is typified by Frank Rich of The New York
Times in his April 30, 1995 article "Connect the Dots." Rich tried to connect various
factions of the Right together, from Mainstream Christian Right groups via the
Rescue Movement to Militias to Racist groups (Rich 1995). Tom Bethell of
American Spectator likened this to "attempts by the John Birch Society to connect up
the left-wing dots" (Bethell 1995, 25). Morris Dees, chief trial counsel for the
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), has made a living out of pursuing Racist
groups. He has expanded into Militias and now even into the violent factions of the
Rescue Movement via this strategy. The "connecting the dots" strategy is not solely
for groups opposing the Right, those opposing the Left also resort to it.
22
Kathleen Marquardt (1993), in her work Animal Scam: The Beastly Abuse of
Human Rights, devotes a full chapter to tying in current animal rights ideology to
Nazi atrocities during their reign in Germany. Marquardt is the Vice President of
American Policy Center, a Property Rights organization opposing the environmental
and animal rights movements, as well as founder and chairman of Putting People
First. Ron Arnold (1997), in Ecoterror: The Violent Agenda to Save Nature, The
World of the Unabomber, ties the Unabomber in to the Radical Environmental
movements such as Earth First!. Arnold is Executive Vice President of the Center for
Defense of Free Enterprise, also a Property Rights or "Wise Use" organization that
opposes activities of the Radical Environmental and Animal Rights movements.
Although these works provide much needed information into each of these
movements, their "political" nature presents problems with their conclusions.
Joel Dyer's ( 1997) work Harvest of Rage takes us from the beginnings of the
modem "anti-government" movement (Militia/Patriot) to the present. Dyer links the
modem movement to the farm crisis of the early 1980s. Dyer identifies how
racist/anti-Semitic groups such as the Posse Comitatus were able to tum farmers
against the government, by using elaborate conspiracy theories and more importantly
the Bible. Dyer notes that the "[h]ard-core evangelists of the antigovernment
message" turned to the Bible to tum "the 'economic' war that can't be fought ...
into the 'holy' war that must be" (1997, 78). These conspiracy theories did have "at
their core, a distorted explanation of some sort of real occurrence" making it all the
more easy for these groups to spread and gain membership (1997, 77). This
"flexibility'' of the conspiracy theory allowed it to be transformed from Jewish
bankers to the not so anti-Semitic international bankers. Dyer overemphasizes the
"real reason" for these conspiracy theories however. Dyer sees them as "a more
23
culturally acceptable excuse for rebellion than the real reason, which is largely
economic" (1997, 107), and than goes on to blame the Federal Reserve, more
specifically Paul Volcker, for the "nation's greatest threat since the Civil War-the
anti-government movement" (1997, 138). This mirrors much of the thinking of the
conspiracies surrounding the Federal Reserve System put forth by the Militia/Patriot
movement (Baker 1993).
Some authors go farther in their "connect the dots" approach to studying
these groups. Dees and Corcoran tie in everybody from
radio talk shows, respectable lobbying organizations, and even members of Congress that compete[s] in viciousness, mean-spiritedness, and hatefulness with anything said or written by members of the extremist movement. It has helped to create a climate and culture of hate, a climate and culture in which invective and irresponsible rhetoric is routinely used to demonize an opponent, legitimize insensitive stereotypes, and promote prejudice. (1996, 5)
Dees and Corcoran go on to "connect the dots" from the Republican win in 1994 to
the Oklahoma City Bombing. Dees, in a moment of personal reflection writes "[t]he
election was bad enough, I thought, but what effect would it have on the militia
movement?" (1996, 128), and answers it on the next page: "I felt something awful
could happen that might injure a lot of innocent people" (1996, 129).
Richard Abanes (1996) continues the linking of Militia/Patriot groups to
racist groups through Louis Beam's "Leaderless Resistance" teachings. Leaderless
Resistance is a cellular or small group organizational strategy, used by right wing
groups over the last 30 years (Kaplan 1997a). Many of the groups in this work
operate in the same "cellular" model of organization. The leaderless strategy is used
by Earth First!, the ALF and the ELF also (Foreman and Haywood 1987; ALF
Primer 1998; Underground #8 1997). This similarity is one that will be examined
briefly in Chapter III. Abanes, without pointing out the fact that this organizational
24
strategy has been, and continues to be used by violent movements, attempts to use
this to "connect the dots" between the Miltia/Patriot movement and racist groups.
Not only have Militia/Patriot groups been linked to racist/anti-Semitic groups
by those that "monitor'' these groups, but they have also been linked to the Rescue
Movement. James L. Risen and Judy L. Thomas have linked "anti-abortion extremism
and anti-government hate" to a series of bombings in Atlanta in 1996 and 1997
(1998, 374). This "connection" is one that is exploited by many pro-choice
supporters (Burghardt 1988; Clarkson 1998b; Flanders 1995). These groups
primarily through John Burt, a former member of the KKK, make further connections
between the Rescue Movement and Racists (Clarkson 1998b; NARAL Factsheet 1,
1998). This connection is also made through Eric Rudolph and his connection to
Christian Identity (Clarkson 1998b; Whitlock 1998). Rudolph is used to connect the
anti-government extremism ( Centennial Park bombing 1996) of the Right to Pro-life
groups (abortion clinic bombings 1997-1998) and homophobic factions ofRight
(lesbian bar bombing 1997). This "full circle" connection is seen in examinations of
left-wing groups by their "watchdogs" also.
The Unabomber has been tied to many different groups and individuals in the
literature. Ron Arnold presents "evidence" that the Unabomber attended a November
1994 meeting of the Native Forest Network, in which the Earth First! Journal was
distributed (1997, 73-74). The Native Forest Network works in much the same way
as Earth First!. Reportedly "top Earth First! members" attended this meeting giving
support to the Unabomber-Earth First! connection. It is purported that Unabomber
got the names of his last two victims, Thomas Mosser and Gil Murray, from an
environmental "hit-list" published in the magazine "Live Wild or Die," operated by
prominent Earth First!ers.2
Arnold notes that he does not want to "blame radical
25
environmentalists as a whole for the Unabomber. This is to show that the apocalyptic
beliefs shared by the Unabomber and radical environmentalists can be used to justify
desperate acts by anyone" (1997, 92). Arnold does seem to stretch the connection
from the Unabomber to the radical environmentalist when he discusses a column
written by Detroit News columnist Tony Snow. In his column Snow compares the
Unabomber Manifesto to Vice President Al Gore's book Earth in the Balance, and
finds similarities in "their literary works" (Snow 1995). This connecting of dots
unfortunately doesn't provide any information into the reasons behind why one
engages in violence.
This review of the agenda-driven literature is not intended to minimize its
importance to the knowledge of apocalyptic groups. This literature represents an
invaluable resource to the scholar attempting to learn first-hand accounts of not only
the belief systems of these groups, but also reactions of those victimized by their
violence. Without this literature and in some of the authors of this literature
(mentioned in the Acknowledgments), this piece would have been nearly impossible.
The information that is provided in this literature is invaluable to learning about the
belief systems, actions and statements of members of these apocalyptic groups.
Nevertheless scholars need to take a more active role in providing objective
information to the public and media regarding apocalyptic groups.
26
CHAPTER III
TYPOLOGY OF APOCALYPTIC GROUPS
Some of groups are readily identifiable as apocalyptic groups and have been
done so by previous research. End-Times (Anthony and Robbins 1997; Shupe 1997),
Militia/Patriot (Barkun 1996b; Durham 1996; Lamy 1997), Anti-Industrial/
Technology (Unabomber) (Lamy 1997), Rescue Movement (Kaplan 1996b ), and
Radical Environmental groups (Lee 1995) have all been identified as apocalyptic/
millenarian. Animal Rights groups have not enjoyed the focus of discussion that these
other groups have. This chapter should not only add to the knowledge of the
previous five but also shed some light on the apocalyptic nature of the Animal Rights
movement.
In order to understand the violent nature, or potential for violence, of the
groups examined in this work, their apocalyptic visions must be examined. In this
chapter we will examine primary source as well as academic and non-academic
literature related to the groups in this study. This examination will note what
apocalyptic visions these groups have and how they fit into the typology that group
has been placed in. Similarities with other groups and/or types will be noted and
discussed. Some of these similarities occur across all groups; others occur only
between two groups. Along with these characteristic similarities, what I call cross
type similarities also occur.
Cross-type similarities occur where the beliefs of one group cross over from
one category of the typology to another. Looking at Figure 1, each group should fit
27
neatly into its own type. The Rescue Movement and End-Times groups should fit
within the boundaries of the Supernatural type. Militia/Patriot and Anti-
Industrial/f echnology groups should confine themselves within the Unnatural type.
Radical Environmental and Animal Rights groups should be bound by concerns over
a Natural apocalypse. As the discussion in this chapter will show there are some that
express concern or discuss catastrophes that would fall within another type. The
cross-typing and where it occurs will be pointed out within the discussions of each of
these groups and at the end of the chapter. We will see that Figure 1 is not
necessarily an accurate representation of how these groups fit into our typology.
SUPERNATIJRAL
RESCUE MOVEMENT
END-TIMES
Figure 1. Apocalyptic Typology.
UNNATIJRAL
MILITIAIPA1RIOT
ANTI-TECHNOLOGY
NATIJRAL
RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
ANIMAL RIGHTS
What we will see is the three Right-wing groups, End-Times, the Rescue
Movement, and Militia/Patriot cross-typing between Supernatural and Unnatural, and
the three Left-wing groups, Radical Environmental, Animal Rights, and Anti
IndustriaVf echnology, cross-typing between Unnatural and Natural. This similarity
notwithstanding there is a discernible pattern of progression across the types. This
progression gives us a direction in which to examine these groups. First we will
examine the Supernatural groups: the Rescue Movement and End-Times Religious.
Second we will examine the Unnatural groups: Militia/Patriot and Anti-
IndustriaVf echnology. Last will be the Natural groups: Radical Environmental
28
groups and Animal Rights. The pattern of progression that occurs, due to cross
groups similarities, will be discussed briefly at the end of this chapter.
Supernatural Apocalyptic Groups
Rescue Movement
The Rescue Movement, or Pro-Life Movement (as they are self described),
represent the starting point for an examination of the three Right-wing groups. The
Rescue Movement is a primarily Christian-based apocalyptic movement (Kaplan
1996b). Their political goal is the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme
Court decision. Historically, this was to be accomplished through peaceful protest,
lobbying and other more acceptable political means. James Risen and Judy Thomas
(1998) describe how the progression occurred from (a) mainstream political attempts
to (b) the direct rescue movement and ( c) the use of violence. Frustration with the
administration of Ronald Reagan in overturning Roe v. Wade led to more unorthodox
tactics in stopping abortions from taking place (Blanchard 1994; Risen and Thomas
1998). Occupations of offices evolved into destruction of property with Joan
Andrews's arrest for unplugging a suction machine.3 This progressed into targeted
violence towards equipment and buildings and eventually direct actions against
abortion providers and supporters.
Jeffrey Kaplan's (1996b) scholarly work "Absolute Rescue" provides support
for the placing of the Rescue Movement into the Supernatural type. Kaplan describes
how this movement progressed from its initial "rescue" work to violence. Kaplan
describes how the initial movement went from a modem incarnation of the 1960s
Civil Rights Movement to identifying abortion with the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.
29
The identification of the "American Holocaust" led to imagery of war in the writings
and beliefs of the Rescuers, and then to the use of force. Kaplan identifies that around
late 1989 or early 1990 rescue literature began to talk about a cleansing of the land
from God. The apocalyptic voices began to get louder. No longer was the movement
simply about the ridding of abortion through political or legal matters, but now talk
of more direct action was occurring. Kaplan identifies this as the point in which the
Pro-Life movement and the Rescue movement parted ways.
This bitter break continues to divide the Rescue Movement today. The
Church (Christianity in general) is indicted for not being aggressive enough in its
attempts to stop abortion. Kaplan identifies this issue as the "genesis of the
apocalyptic view of American culture" (1996b, 132) by this movement. John
Brockhoeft, convicted of bombing an abortion clinic, began writing The Brockhoeft
Report while incarcerated. In this report he expresses his shame for being "part of a
lukewarm church" and not acting against abortion sooner (Brockhoeft 1994).
Brockhoeft also describes the apocalyptic visions for America in this report, blaming
not only the church but also "leftists" (Brockhoeft 1993b ), "Satanists" (Brockhoeft
1993a), and even the "New World Order" (Brockhoeft 1993b, 1994).
Brockhoeft states much in these reports that support the placement of
Abortion protesters in the Supernatural typology. Brockhoeft ponders as to why Dr.
David Gunn, killed by Michael Griffin, performed abortions. Brockhoeft's answers
are "money" or "that he was in league with the devil, whether deliberately or 'merely'
in fulfillment of left-wing ideology" (Brockhoeft 1994a). Kaplan (1996b) describes
how confrontations with "deathscorts" (the term used to describe pro-abortion
volunteers, by rescuers) and the anti-Christian nature of their attacks led to the
identification of them with Satan. Brockhoeft states in the opening installment of his
30
report "[I]t is a well-known fact that some people who deliberately and knowingly
worship Satan take jobs in abortion chambers" (Brockhoeft 1993a). He continues to
report the discovery of requiring women to have abortions in order to join "satanic
covens" (Brockhoeft 1993a).
Paul Hill, sentenced to death for killing Dr. John Britton (Dr. Gunn' s
replacement) and his escort James Barrett, in a letter to the editors of Credenda
Agenda continues the Satanic theme: "The cutting edge of Satan's attack is the
abortionist's knife" (Hill 1997a). Fr. Norm Westin of the Lambs of Christ when asked
what the biggest problem facing his organization was, answered "Satan" (Clarkson
1998b ). By bringing in the belief that Satan is behind the abortion industry we move
from a Natural or Unnatural apocalyptic vision to the Supernatural.
The abortion protesters do not just concentrate on the "dark" side of the
Supernatural spectrum. The apocalyptic view is evident in the discussion of what
God's role will be to the abortion issue. Many in the Rescue Movement, such as Paul
Hill, see the direct role of God in their taking of violent actions. Hill stated the killing
of Dr. Britton «was His Project; I trusted Him to complete it" (Hill 1997b ). Shelley
Shannon states that "God accomplished it, I just was willing" in regards to her first
arson attack on an abortion center (Shaggy West 1998). Still others bring God into
their actions through the use of a moniker: The Army of God (AOG).
Starting with Don Anderson's kidnapping of an abortionist and his wife in
1982, the name AOG was used in relation to an Abortion Protester's illegal action
(Clarkson 1998a).4
Michael Bray left a sign with AOG on it, at the scene of one of
his bombings (Clarkson 1998a).5
Justice Harry Blackmun, the author of the Roe v.
Wade decision, was sent a threatening letter from the AOG in 1984 (Clarkson
1998a). Eventually a manual on how to engage in "Termite tactic[s]" against abortion
31
providers was created called the Army of God Manual (Army of God 1998). This
manual advocates "Operation B.R.I.C.K." or "Babies Rescued Through Increased
Cost of Killing" (Army of God 1998). By increasing the cost to operate, through loss
of business or repairing damage done in property destruction actions, it will become
unprofitable to be in the abortion business (a tactic also used by Radical
Environmental and Animal Rights groups). What is helpful for this thesis is the
addition of a "Declaration" of war in the Epilogue of the third edition of the manual.
This "Declaration" is breaking with the previous "no harm" stance of the manual and
the movement in general. This "Declaration" states:
No longer! All of the options have expired. Our Most Dread Sovereign Lord God requires that whosoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Not out of hatred of you, but out oflove for the persons you exterminate, we are forced to take arms against you ( emphasis in original). (Army of God 1998)
Shelley Shannon, serving prison time for attempting to kill abortionist Dr.
George Tiller, had copies of this manual buried in her backyard (Bower 1995b ). The
AOG reappeared in connection with the double bombing in Atlanta January 16, 1997,
the lesbian bar bombing on February 19, 1997 and the Birmingham bombing on
January 29, 1998 (Anti-Abortion Violence Watch #7, 1998). God's direct role is also
seen in a more apocalyptic light.
The AOG Manual describes how others have been moved by the "Holy
Spirit" because they know "there is a limit to how long our land can be allowed to
run red with the blood of God's children crying out to heaven for vengeance" (Army
of God 1998). Neal Horsley (1998) of the Creator's Rights Party, during the Hale
Bopp Comet frenzy, stated, "If we had our wits about us, instead of worrying about
UFO's hidden behind the Hale-Bopp Comet, we'd be worrying about God pointing
that projectile at the USA and bringing justice swift and sure crashing down."6
32
Brockhoeft (1994b) also provides the need for abortion to be stopped by Christians
or "by the Lord's Hand, it will be accompanied by a devastating, punishing cataclysm
(perhaps the Great Tribulation)." Jay Rogers, editor of the rescue magazine
Forerunner, states, "The question of God's judgment is rhetorical: 'Will God not
judge a people such as this?' The question rather should be: 'Will God's judgment
bring us to redemption or annihilation?'" (Rogers 1989). There is a strong belief,
particularly among the violent fringe of the Pro-Life Movement that unless Christians
stop the continued slaughter of God's children, "God's Wrath" will come upon the
land.
Even the less violent faction of the Rescue Movement sees a coming
destruction of society. Joseph Scheidler, of the Pro-Life Action League, in his book
Closed: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion states, "The abortion industry will ultimately
destroy itself But since it is destroying society along with itself, we must speed up
the process of destruction, in the hope that our society will survive" (1993, 368).
This view represents the less violent and more Unnatural apocalyptic view of the
Abortion Protest movement.
Brockhoeft (1994a) continues the doomsday thinking in one of his
indictments of Christians:
Take it thirty years from now, to 2024 AD. Abortion will be history then, having been vanquished and forbidden either by Christians' wrath and intervention or by the Lord's wrath and intervention. You are free to choose either one; but you cannot choose neither one; because if you do not choose the one, then the other will come automatically through your acquiescence. So, if you want to sort of"help" the Lord usher in the apocalypse and millennium ... if you want to sort of"hasten" these events . . . go ahead! Simply do nothing! . . . Who knows? - you might, thus, help me get out of prison sooner (i.e., at the Lord's second coming)! Who knows? - if you, thus, "urge" Jesus' return to occur suddenly enough, you might even prevent Hillary and Janet from chopping my head offi Who knows? - if you "help" bring the Great Tribulation in suddenly enough you might, thus, even cause
33
them to chop my head off and send me to an eternity of joy! And I'll have you to thank for it!
The apocalyptic belief that the supernatural force of God is working in
support of the Rescue Movement is a key aspect of this movement. For this study it
is essential in the determination of the Rescue Movement in the Supernatural
category, regardless of the results of the apocalyptic catastrophe. Some in the Rescue
Movement such as Michael Bray advocate the view of"the pattern of History that
God destroys nations and rebuilds or replaces them. We can look to the opportunity
that destruction brings; reconstruction" (Bray 1994). Others discuss the "Great
Tribulation" in which for some Christ will "rapture" them to heaven. This will be
followed by the "Rise of the Anti-Christ" and then the "Second Coming" (Walvoord
1998).
This Supernatural focus may not necessarily have as much of an impact on the
violence of the Rescue Movement as we will see in Chapter IV when we compare the
frequency of violence to the other Supernatural groups, End-Times Religious. The
more important and easily defined apocalypse is the actual death of the babies from
abortions. Kaplan ( 1996b) points out that many of the prisoners of the Rescue
Movement have a strong attachment to the fetuses. This strong attachment makes the
apocalypse ( death of the fetus) imminent and assured. As we saw in Chapter II,
imminence plays an important role in the violence of the millenarian/apocalyptic
(Taylor 1991). We will discuss this idea of imminence and its role in violence further
at the end of this chapter and in Chapter IV.
Lastly, there is some cross-typing of the Rescue Movement into the Unnatural
realm. Some of the features of the Rescue Movement show this cross-typing. For
example Matthew Trewhella, leader of the Missionaries to the Preborn, advocates the
34
forming of Militias (Burghardt 1998; Durham 1996; Flanders 1995). Many in the
Rescue Movement identify with the attempts to stop Hitler and the Holocaust by
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Brockhoeft talks about Boenhoffer in Chapter 4 of his report
(1993c). Kaplan (1996b) also identifies this as a strong theme for the Rescue
Movement. Brockhoeft also talks about The New World Order (a favorite of the
Militia/Patriot groups) in Chapter 14 of his report (1994d). John Salvi, who
murdered two and wounded five at abortion clinics, identifies the FreeMasons of the
Masonic Temple as being behind his perceived persecution of Catholics, and himself,
during a psychiatric interview (Frontline 1996). The FreeMasons play a role in the
conspiracy theories of the End-Times Religious and the Militia/Patriot groups, as we
will see in the examinations of them. This cross-typing into the Unnatural is not for
this Supernatural group alone. The End-Times Religious groups experience more of
this cross-typing, but still occupy primary residence in the Supernatural.
End-Times Religious
End-Times Religious groups are, by definition, apocalyptic. Regardless of
what type they are (postmillennial-premillennial, pretribulation-midtribulation
postribulation, or using Wessinger's distinction catastrophic-progressive), they still
believe in a supernatural change in the world. These groups see God's Hand coming
with a harsh and final judgement for the world. Despite this belief, they are still
encouraged to engage in the political process.
End-Times author Ed Hindson answers the question "What can we do now?"
by stating that "we must continue to remain active in the political process"(} 996,
183). Hindson states, "It is better to be able to work with the political system than
against it" ( 1996, 183 ). This is reflected in the lack of incidents of violence from
35
these groups. The Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas are one of the few incidents in
which violence occurred from an End-Times Group. The Heaven's Gate group is
another apocalyptic religious group that engaged in violence. They are not included
here because their violence was self-directed and they do not fit the political criteria
established in Chapter I. Despite this lack of violence, End-Times beliefs have a
historical potentiality for radical or unorthodox behavior.
Reinaldo L. Roman's (1996) examination of pre-modern Christian millenarian
groups bears this out. Rejection of mainstream Christianity was within "a frame of
reference" of the mainstream ( 1996, 51 ). Presenting their messages "chiliasts
redefined, distorted, and even revitalized the original tradition and its symbols"
( 1996, 51 ). This redefining the mainstream resulted in violent movements such as the
Circumcellions, Taborites, or Montanists. This redefining is a common occurrence in
the writings of modem day "prophets."
Phillip Lamy's (1997) discussion of how secular and religious millenarians
derive their beliefs from the "millennial myth" of America shows how the potential
exists for violence from those who secularize the beliefs of modem End-Times
groups. Some of the common themes that are secularized will be shown in the
discussion here and the following discussion of Militia/Patriot groups. Regardless of
the secularization of these beliefs, the End-Times groups clearly belong to a
Supernatural type of apocalypse.
Within the differing denominations of Christianity there are differing
apocalyptic beliefs. Catholic apocalyptics focus on the earthly visitations of the Virgin
Mary, especially the Fatima prophecies attributed to a vision of her in Fatima,
Portugal in 1917 (Cuneo 1997).7
The third secret ofFatima is seen as the key in
which the Virgin Mary describes the coming end of the world and the focus of much
36
of the apocalyptic movement within Catholicism. Massimo Introvigne (1997)
discusses the Latter-Day Saints Church and its history of millenarian movements. The
Seventh-day Adventist Church has seen its share of apocalyptics with the Branch
Davidians the most notable (Bromley and Silver 1995; Lawson 1997). Ronald
Lawson identifies five categories of apocalyptic beliefs within the Adventist
denomination: (1) "The 6,000 year umbrella time prophecy," (2) "The Jubilee Cycle,"
(3) "Applications of the timeline prophecies of Daniel and Revelation taken to the
present," ( 4) "The status of Jerusalem," and (5) "Those who 'sigh and cry' over the
apostasy of the Adventist Church" (1997, 219-221). Some of these themes also show
up in other End-Times writings.
The apostasy of their respective church and other churches is a common
theme in End-times writings. End-times writer Grant Jeffrey (1997) describes the
apostasy of the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church along with the building of
a worldwide church around the Catholic Church and the Church of England. Jeffrey
puts a lot of the focus on Pope John Paul II, particularly the Pope's discussions with
the Church of England, the Dalai Lama and "false" religious leaders. Jeffrey also
discusses the Fatima visions and the writings of St. Malachi. St. Malachi, a Bishop in
Ireland in the 1100s, described all of the Popes from Celestine II on. Pope John Paul
II is prophesied, by St. Malachi, to be the next to last Pope, not by name but by the
fact that he is the 110th Pope since Celestine II. The last Pope, Pope Peter II of
Rome (111th), will reside over the last persecution of the Church.
The status of Jerusalem and to an even greater extent the role oflsrael
(Hindson 1996; James 1996; Jeffrey 1996; Levitt 1997, 1998; Lindsey 1995) is even
more common in the belief that the end is near. Zola Levitt, end-times expert on
Israel, describes Jerusalem as the "millennial house of the Lord" (1997, 178). William
37
T. James describes the dispute over Israel as "So bitter ... and so deep ... that the
antagonism has to be supernaturally inspired and perpetuated" (1996, 129; emphasis
added). Along with the importance of Jerusalem is the rebuilding of the Temple ( of
Solomon) and recent attempts to lay a cornerstone for the Temple by the Temple
Mount Faithful group in 1997 (Underwood 1997) and 1998 (Western Journalism
Center 1998). These signs point to Armageddon, the great battle that ends the reign
of the Antichrist (a common theme in end-times writings; see Fuller 1995 for a
historical account of the history ofidentifying the Antichrist). The Tribulation (the
Antichrist's seven-year reign) results in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Breese
1996; Feinberg 1997; Walvoord 1998). It is the events leading up to the Tribulation
that these End-Times writers focus on and which can be further examined by a
Natural or Unnatural catastrophe under Supernatural influence.
This Supernatural influence is the key in distinguishing the End-Times groups
from the Militia/Patriot groups discussed next. The End-Times writers describe the
coming of many Natural catastrophes. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms,
diseases, famine, plagues, and cosmic events are some of the "naturally" occurring
catastrophes seen by End-Times writers as signs of the coming Tribulation (Church
1997; Hindson 1996; Jeffrey 1994; Lindsey 1995, 1997, Van Impe 1996). Revelation
6:13 reads in part, "And the stars of heaven fell to the Earth" as the Sixth Seal is
opened (The New Open Bible 1990, 1524). Best-selling end-times author Hal
Lindsey (1995, 1997) acknowledges this could be a meteor or asteroid falling, but
states that it is more likely incoming nuclear missiles. Lindsey does write that these
celestial objects are possibly the "power of heaven ... shaken" that Jesus described
in Matthew 24:25 (Lindsey 1995, 109-110). The likelihood ofNuclear Armageddon
is prominent in other writings also (Hindson 1996; James 1996; Breese 1998).
38
Regardless of the causes of these events, they are interpreted as being signs from God
that his judgment is about to come on the world. Any increase in the numbers of
these events or severity (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, diseases, famines, etc) is seen
as "proof' that the End-Times are imminent. Events in the Unnatural realm play an
even more significant role in the "proof' of these imminent times.
The events in Israel/Jerusalem as previously discussed are an example of these
unnatural events focused on by End-Times writers. This area is the one in which the
most cross-typing occur with the Militia/Patriot groups. Much is discussed of the
''New World Order" (NWO), the Illuminati, the Bilderbergers, the Council on
Foreign Relations (CFR), Trilateral Commission, National Identification systems, Bill
Clinton, the European Union, Iraq, China and Russia for example. The difference is
that the End-Timers see the actions of these ideologies/groups/countries/leaders
falling in line with the imminent Supernatural apocalypse. Table 2 shows how each of
these fit into a Supernatural interpretation of the imminent End-Times.
It is clear that all of these modern individuals, countries, and groups operate
within the "unnatural" or secular realm. When they are seen through the End-Times
interpretations of Biblical prophecy they move into the supernatural. It is the
interpretation of unfolding events that sets them apart from the Militia/Patriot groups
that have the same concerns but see them within the context of the creation of an
unnatural catastrophe. The Branch Davidians expressed how these Supernatural
interpretations of events differ from the Unnatural interpretations of the
Militia/Patriot groups. The Branch Davidians offer a transition into the Militia/Patriot
groups that follow.
The basis for the Davidians' apocalyptic views is their focus on unlocking the
secrets of the Seven Seals (Bromley and Silver 1995). Some of the Natural
39
Table 2
End-Times Interpretations of Organizations/Ideas/People/Countries
Organization/Idea/ Individual/Country
The New World Order
The Illuminati The FreeMasons
The Bilderbergers, The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), The Trilateral Commission {TLC)
End-Times Supernatural Explanation
The NWO is seen as the world government that the Antichrist will use to gain power in the world (Jeffrey 1997). This attempt to unite the world under one world government will be brought about through the other organizations and individuals below. The NWO plays a prominent place in the theology of Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson {Thompson 1996, George and Wilcox 1996). Robertson's book The New World Order is a favorite reference for evangelicals that follow this apocalyptic view of the present times. Ralph Epperson refers to "Lucifer" as the "god of the New World Order" {1990, 286).
Adam Weishaupt began the Illuminati in the late 1700s. It is seen as one of the initial groups designed to bring about the NWO (Epperson 1990). Texe Marrs describes the "Inner Circle" of the Illuminati as "Luciferian" in their conspiracy (1995, 275). The rituals of the FreeMasons are seen as being an apostasy to Christianity (Epperson 1990, Marrs 1995).
The Bilderbergers are a secret group that is influential in promoting junior members into positions of power in governments (Jeffrey 1994). The CFR and the TLC work in the same way. Numerous government officials are said to come from the ranks of these groups. The goal is to create a world government, which again allows the rise of the Antichrist. Marrs (1995) lists the members of these groups that are in places of power.
� 0
Table 2-Continued
Organization/Idea/ End-Times Supernatural Explanation
Individual/Country
National Identification Any type of National ID is seen as representing the "mark or name of the beast" in Systems Revelation 13:16-18 (The New Open Bible 1990). Grant Jeffrey (1997, 327) points
out how technology is approaching the point at which the "666/Mark of the Beast" system can be put in place. Others point to biochip technology as the possible "mark" (Van Impe 1996, Cook 1998).
Bill Clinton Belongs to the CFR/Bilderberger/TLC/ Masons and is seen as a key player in the push for a global government (Marrs 1995, Corbett 1997, Kah 1995).
The European Union This is seen as the revival of the Roman Empire prophesied in Daniel 7:23, 24 (Jeffrey 1994, James 1998, Froese 1997, Breese 1996, Missler 1995b) as well as in Revelation (James 1998). This revival allows for the Antichrist to rise to his initial power before control of the world.
Iraq Iraq is the land on which Babylon originally was located. The rise of Babylon is seen as another sign of the End-Times (Hindson 1996) because it has not been destroyed as the Bible describes it (Missler 1995a).
China China is seen as leading the army of 200 million released by the sixth trumpet in Revelation 8: 13-16 (Lindsey 199 5, Missler 1997).
Russia Russia is seen as being the force which comes from the North to attack Israel (Breese 1997). The Magog forces that attack Israel are identified as being the land that now is Russia (Missler 1995c).
.i:,.. .....
catastrophes discussed earlier are found within in the Seven Seals of Revelation 6.
"The Seven Seals were the core of Branch Davidian theology" according to David B.
Kopel and Paul H. Blackman (1997, 188). David Koresh believed that the "FBI siege
was related" to the opening of this Sixth Seal (Kopel and Blackman 1997, 188).
Koresh believed that he had gone through the other Seals already starting in 1985 and
that he was the "Lamb" who could understand what they meant (Kopel and
Blackman 1997, 15�151). This date 1985 was important because Koresh's timetable
for the End-Times was 10 years from this point, 1995 (Thompson 1996, 294). This
timetable was moved up to 1992 when child welfare workers were set to investigate
the Davidians for child abuse (Thompson 1996, 294-295).
Dr. James Yabor and Dr. J. Phillip Arnold believed that the Davidians saw the
initial raid as the opening of the Fifth Seal, in the Davidians' interpretation
(Thompson 1996). This Seal is fulfilled when the "remaining faithful at Mount
Carmel were killed, after which God would intervene in apocalyptic fury" (Thompson
1996, 297). Koresh saw the events of the siege through the Supernatural view of the
coming apocalypse with him occupying a special role in the events surrounding the
end-times.
Supernatural interpretations of events differ from the Unnatural
interpretations of the Militia/Patriot groups. The Branch Davidians offer a transition
into the Militia/Patriot groups that have the same concerns but see them within the
context of the creation of an unnatural catastrophe. Those in the Militia/Patriot
movement have a different interpretation of this incident. They interpret it within their
own Unnatural apocalyptic vision. Not as a supernatural force destroying the
Davidians, but rather part of a large international conspiracy, the New World Order.
42
Unnatural Apocalyptic Groups
Militia/Patriot Groups
The Militia/Patriot groups present the most difficult of the six groups to place
within one typology. The cross-typing of the Militia/Patriot and End-Times groups is
numerous (Abanes 1998, Gallagher 1997). Michael Barkun (1996b) discusses a
similar cross-typing of the religious and the secular. Barkun states "the militias
operate at the point where secular and religious conspiracy theories intersect" and
these are "regarded as complementary, not competing, approaches" (1996a, 59). �his
cross-typing occurs in the common conspiratorial beliefs of End-Times groups and
Militia/Patriot groups. Table 2 can be reinterpreted by the Militia/Patriot to fit into
the secular nature of their particular apocalyptic conspiracy. Table 3 shows how this
reinterpretation occurs. The difference between the two is more a matter of degree of
focus than of underlying beliefs. The focus for Militia/Patriot groups are more
concerned with prevention or protection from the coming Unnatural apocalypse,
whereas End-Times groups look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Militia/Patriot movement is recognized as growing out of events
surrounding the Randy Weaver incident (Ruby Ridge) in 1992 and boosted after the
Waco incident in 1993 (Dees and Corcoran 1996; Durham 1996; George and Wilcox
1996; Junas 1998). The genesis of militias is identified as a speech given by Louis
Beam, a white supremacist, during a gathering in Estes Park, Colorado, two months
after the Weaver standoff ended (Stem 1996, 36). "Leaderless Resistance" was
identified by Beam as the ideal organization to resist the "federal tyranny [that]
represents a threat to everyone" (Beam 1992). Leaderless Resistance involves the
43
Table 3
Militia/Patriot Interpretations of Organizations/Ideas/People/Countries
Organization/Idea/ Militia/Patriot Explanation Individual/Country
The New World Order "[A]n oligarchy of the world's richest families to place 1/2 the masses of the earth in servitude ... from behind the false front of the United Nations . . . the plan calls for the elimination of the other 2.5 billion people through war, disease, abortion and famine by the year 2000" (McLamb 1998). This is a good example of the statements behind the idea of the New World Order one-world government.
The Illuminati Members of these "secret" organizations are all working towards the establishment of The FreeMasons the New World Order (George and Wilcox 1996; Kah 1991; McAlvany 1994; The Bilderbergers, McLamb 1998). Particularly useful to this belief are the writings of Carroll Quigley, The Council on Foreign professor of history at Georgetown University while Bill Clinton was a student, in Relations (CFR), The Tragedy and Hope ( 1966). Quigley identifies these groups and others as the "Round Trilateral Commission (TLC) Table Groups" (1966, 950). "The chief aims of this elaborate, semisecret organization
were largely commendable: to coordinate the international activities and outlooks of all the English-speaking world into one ... to work to maintain the peace" ( 1966, 954). "To coordinate . .. into one" is often taken as coordinating into a One-world government, to fit into their conspiracy theories.
National Identification The national ID card will be used to keep track of all information pertaining to Systems individuals. Initial concern over the Clinton healthcare card, then re9frding Illegal
Immigration control. Also concern about gun registration databases.
Bill Clinton Belongs to all three of the previous groups, is seen as a key player in the push for a global government (Kah 1995, McLamb 1998). Clinton was a student ofQuigley's at Georgetown and it is believed that this is where Clinton was "influenced" into the globalist fold.
t
Table 3--Continued
Organization/Idea/ Individual/Country
The European Union
Iraq
China
Russia
Militia/Patriot Explanation
Seen as a first step in globalization process. Starting with the introduction of the European currency.
Desert Storm is seen as the dry run for the global police force of the NWO (Koemke 1993) Bible describes it (Missler 1995a).
Concern over China's role has ranged from reports of Chinese troops in the United States preparing for the takeover by the UN to the recent scandal in�olving Chineseinfluence within the Clinton administration and reelection campaign.
The Fall of Communism is often seen as a rue and that Communism is still alive and well.
� 1.1'1
formation of a small "phantom cell" (Beam 1992) in which resistance to the tyranny
of government can be fought. Jeffiey Kaplan (1997a) examines in more detail the
recent history of Leaderless Resistance from the Minuteman of the 1960s to the
Odinist "Wotan" or individual berserker to Timothy McVeigh. Kaplan also notes how
the Communist Cell organization operated in the same way. It is also worthy to note
that the ALF, ELF, and the Rescue Movement operate in the same manner of small
independent organizations to insulate the mainstream organizations from culpability.
Beam's (1992) focus is on an unnatural catastrophe, i.e., a coming "federal tyranny"
of oppression. Other leaders in the Militia/Patriot movement also reflect this belief in
an Unnatural apocalypse about to befall the United States.
John Trochmann, the head of the Militia of Montana, echoes Beam's
concerns. Trochmann also focuses on a loss of"our own land" (Neiwert 1996).
Trochmann blames "Internationalists" for "altering our way oflife" (Neiwert 1996).
The NWO have "Force 2000," a mixture oflaw enforcement and military that are
"working hard on their house to house search and seizure" (Neiwert 1996).
Trochmann also states "we're damn near out of time" in regards to information
contained in one of the Militia of Montana informational brochures (Neiwert 1996).
Trochmann identifies his activities as "trying to show people what's really going on in
Americ�. Because ifwe don't change things, this'll be the end of our nation_,, IO The
end of the nation occurs through a variety of conspiracy theories.
Along with the conspiratorial interpretations presented in Table 3 there are
other various incidents, legislation and actions that are construed by Militia/Patriot
followers as representing movements towards a loss of national sovereignty. As was
briefly touched on earlier, the incidents at Ruby Ridge and Waco are often cited as
proof that "Patriots" are under attack by the federal government (Dees and Corcoran
46
1996; Durham 1996; George and Wilcox 1996; Junas 1998; L. Thompson 1994,
Paranoia as Patriotism 1996; Stem 1996). Other forms of the apocalyptic
conspiracies of the Militia/Patriot movement involve:
1. Loss of Second Amendment Rights, through the Brady Bill and Assault
Weapons Ban (Abanes 1998; Duffy and Brantley 1997; Durham 1996; Halpern and
Rosenberg 1996; Koernke 1993; Pratt 1997).
2. Collapse of the economic system. Often this occurs through the
Unconstitutional Federal Reserve System (Biehl 1998; George and Wilcox 1996;
Neiwert 1996) or International Bankers (Durham 1996).
3. NWO/lntemationalists taking over U.S. sovereignty (Abanes 1996; Marks
1996; McAlvany 1994; McLamb 1998).
4. Unconstitutional Executive Orders (Blair 1994b; Boortz 1998; White
1997).
5. Foreign Combat Vehicles/Forces in the United States (Abanes 1998; Blair
1994a; Koernke 1993; Ross 1995). Used for takeover of the United States and for
transporting and maintaining the "detention centers"f'concentration camps" or
crematoriums set up throughout the United States (Koernke 1993; L. Thompson
1994).11
6. The "concentration camps" are operated by the "shadow government," or
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Barkun 1996b, 1997a;
Goldstein 1998; Koernke 1993; Williams and Winokur 1995). FEMA was given this
power through Executive Order. 12 FEMA is often given credit for the infamous
"Black Helicopters" seen throughout the United States (Barkun 1996b, 1997; L.
Thompson 1994).
47
7. GATT/NAFTA represent another loss of United States sovereignty and a
move towards globalization (Durham 1996; Dyer 1996; McAlvany 1994).
8. Militarization of federal law enforcement agencies such as Multi
Jurisdictional Task Force (MJTF), Financial Crimes Enforcement (FINCEN), FBI
Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), BATF causes concern over loss of freedoms from an
oppressive police state (Koernke 1993; Neiwert 1996).
9. Oklahoma City Bombing (OKC) is often seen as the equivalent of the
Reichstag fire that brought Hitler to power. The government is often seen as either
having prior knowledge of the bombing (Evans-Pritchard 1997) or of direct
involvement (Dees and Corcoran 1996; Durham 1996; Stein 1996). The May 13,
1996 issue of The New American magazine (published by the John Birch Society)
goes into greater detail of the "Cover-Up" of the OKC Bombing. Information is
presented that promotes the theory that there were bombs placed inside the building
(two seismic events measured, hence two explosions), or that there was previous
knowledge of the bombing such as no ATF officers in the building that day (Jasper
1996a, 1996b, 1996c, 1996d).
These are just a sample of some of the popular apocalyptic conspiracies that
circulate within the Militia/Patriot movement. As John George and Laird Wilcox
report, "The range of conspiracy theories may be almost encyclopedic, but they all
have one thing in common: some kind of diabolical plot by the dark forces to do in
the champions of righteousness and freedom" (1996, 266). There are far too many
conspiracy theories to be discussed in any great detail in this work. Most of them do
involve an action or incident, which when put into the larger conspiratorial belief
system, reinforces this apocalyptic grand conspiracy.
48
The grand conspiracy theory involves the loss of freedom in the United States
and/or sovereignty. The main concern of the Militia/Patriot movement is the loss of
Constitutional freedoms through any of the above mentioned scenarios. Although the
end of the world apocalyptic scenarios of the End-Times groups is part of the belief
system of some in the Militia/Patriot movement, the apocalyptic visions of
Militia/Patriots are narrower. Concern over the survival of"Patriots" is an
apocalyptic element, as seen in the concentration camp/crematorium/detention
centers belief. This and other smaller conspiracy beliefs all are used to reinforce the
apocalyptic nature of the Militia/Patriot movement. The Militia/Patriot movement,
particularly within the "Survivalist" faction, has some cross-typing with the Anti
Industrial/fechnology groups. This is especially prevalent in the increasing concern
regarding the Y2K computer problem and distrust in technology as it exists. The
difference lies in the desired result of any fight against the industrial system. The
Militia/Patriot movement seeks to get the Capital/Industrial system back to what it
"should be" (back into a Free Market or a populist support of the U.S. market)
whereas the Anti-Industrialffechnology followers seek to destroy it.
Anti-Industrialff echnology
Much like the End-Times group, this group has few incidents of violence in
the 1990s. The violent edge of the Left has moved from this typology into the
Radical Environmental movement, as we will see later. It is the Unabomber' s
Manifesto, "Industrial Society and its Future," which will be the focus of the
examination of this group's apocalyptic beliefs.13
In many ways the Anti-Industrial/Technology groups mirrors the End-Times
Religious groups. The End-Times groups have one representative group associated
49
with them, while the Unabomber is the sole representative of Anti-Industrial/
Technology. The End-Times groups are strongly related to another typology group
(Militia/Patriot), while the Radical Environmental groups employ much of the Anti
Technology rhetoric that the Unabomber uses in his Manifesto. There is the belief by
some that the Unabomber has more in common with the Radical Environmental
movement than his writings might let on.
Ron Arnold's {1997) book, Ecoterror: The Violent Agenda to Save Nature:
The World of the Unabomber, besides being a source of information on the violent
factions of the Radical Environmental movement, is written around the premise that
the Unabomber may have been heavily influenced by radical environmental writings,
especially as it pertains to the selection of some of his targets (see Chapter II of this
thesis). Regardless of Arnold's argument, it is difficult to state that the Anti
IndustriaVTechnology groups, as represented by the Unabomber, would fit in the
Natural, or the Radical Environmental groups would fit more into the Unnatural on
this association alone. Much as the Militia/Patriot groups intersect with the End
Times groups they each occupy their own distinct type with a difference in degree of
focus. The Unabomber focuses more on the inevitability of an Unnatural apocalypse,
the fall of the Industrial/Technological system, than on the prevention of any Natural
apocalypse.
Another significant factor in the difference between the Radical
Environmental groups and the Unabomber is that the Radical Environmental groups
focus on the downfall of the Industrial system as a positive for nature. Radical
Environmentalists believed that the industrial system would destroy itself (Lee 1997)
much as the Unabomber foresees the possibility that the "industrial-technological
system may survive or it may break down" (1995, para. 2). The Unabomber does not
50
foresee this as just a positive for nature but more as a positive for man. Much like the
Militia/Patriot concerns over loss of freedom, the Unabomber is concerned with the
loss of freedom for mankind as a result of technology.
This loss of freedom is the loss of the "power process" 14
and is the reason
that the industrial system must be destroyed. The Unabomber argues that "industrial
technological society cannot be reformed in such a way as to prevent it from
progressively narrowing the sphere of human freedom" (1995, para. 93) and to get
this "message before the public with some chance of making a lasting impression,
we've had to kill people" (1995, para. 96). The Unabomber only sees a revolution as
the easiest way to overcome the inevitable loss of freedom associated with
technology. He goes into more detail about this in his section titled "Revolution is
Easier Than Reform."
In paragraphs 140 and 141 the Unabomber (1995) identifies why a revolution
is needed in order to avoid the apocalyptic inevitability of loss of freedom:
140. We hope we have convinced the reader that the system cannot bereformed in such a way as to reconcile freedom with technology. The onlyway out is to dispense with the industrial-technological system altogether.This implies revolution, not necessarily an armed uprising, but certainly aradical and fundamental change in the nature of society.
141. People tend to assume that because a revolution involves a much greaterchange than reform does, it is more difficult to bring about than reform is.Actually, under certain circumstances revolution is much easier than reform.The reason is that a revolutionary movement can inspire an intensity ofcommitment that a reform movement cannot inspire. A reform movementmerely offers to solve a particular social problem. A revolutionary movementoffers to solve all problems at one stroke and create a whole new world; ...For this reason it would be much easier to overthrow the whole technologicalsystem than to put effective, permanent restraints on the development orapplication of any one segment of technology, such as genetic engineering,for example.
The Unabomber believes that "technology will eventually acquire something
approaching complete control over behavior" (1995, para. 157) unless this revolution
51
talces place. This concern over the consequences towards humans of the industrial
technological society differentiates him from the Radical Environmental groups.
The loss of freedom for humans is what makes the Unabomber an
apocalyptic. Phillip Lamy refers to the Unabomber' s ideas as "the mass culture
critique" and "can be viewed as an apocalyptic idea that continues to inform theories
about our modem society and its way of life" (1997, 108). Despite his contention that
the revolution "will not be a POLITICAL revolution" ( emphasis in original)
(Unabomber 1995, para. 193), he fits into our definition of political for this paper.
The Unabomber, while not referencing other modem day "Luddites" or anti
technology writers, if taken at his written word is most definitely concerned with an
Unnatural apocalypse (loss of human freedom). It is the inevitability of this
apocalypse which drove the Unabomber to act as he did. His answer for preventing
this apocalypse was the destruction of the industrial-technological system. This goal
is shared by the Radical Environmental groups, but for the prevention of a far
different apocalyptic belief than that written by the Unabomber.
Natural Apocalyptic Groups
Radical Environmental Groups
Radical Environmental groups have the same disregard for Industrial society
as the Unabomber. In fact Kirkpatrick Sale, a prominent nee-Luddite, wrote in the
Eostar (March-April) 1997 issue of the Earth First! Journal about the need for a
modem day "Luddism." Sale ( 1997) suggests an ideology which would contain the
following beliefs:
Industrialism is the culture that is endangering economic, social and environmental systems around the world and must be opposed by an
52
organicism based on the integrity, stability and harmony of the biotic world. Anthropocentrism is the dangerous mind-set of the industrial culture and must be opposed by a biocentrism that teaches a spiritual identification of the human with all living species and the living earth. Globalism is the economic and military strategy of the industrial system and must be opposed by an assertion of localism and an empowerment of the coherent bioregion and the human-scale community. And capitalism is the means of exploitation and unjust distribution underlying that system and must be opposed by an ecological economy built upon harmony with the earth and cooperation among humans.
This Radical Environmentalist's apocalyptic vision of industrial society sees a
future collapse of society as a desirable outcome, not as a way to human freedom, but
as a way of preventing a "biological meltdown" (Manes 1990, 25-26). The difference
between these two, and the basis for the division in typology is that the Unabomber
takes an anthropocentric and the Radical Environmental groups have a biocentric or
ecocentric (Taylor 1999) approach. This biocentric approach comes from the beliefs
ofDeep Ecology (Lee 1995; Manes 1990). Martha Lee states that Earth First!'s
"apocalyptic and its millenarian belief systems developed from the fertile ground of
deep ecology" (Lee 1995, 19). Deep Ecology is a "movement" that rejects an
anthropocentric approach to the world (Lee 1995). Deep Ecology is based on eight
points (see Appendix C) to which Arne Naess states, "those who solidly reject one or
more of these points should not be viewed as supporters of deep ecology" (Naess
1995, 67-08). Martha Lee identifies the founding of Earth First! (EF!) as coming
from this Deep Ecology movement with the focus on a biocentric look at the world.
These founders also had an apocalyptic view within this biocentric belief system (Lee
1995, 1996, 1997).
The beginnings ofEF! came together as a result of the founder's common
"belief that modem society's destruction of the natural environment would end in an
apocalyptic crisis" (Lee 1996, 113). Ron Arnold calls the founders ofEF!'s "belief
53
that modem society and its destruction of the natural world could only end in
apocalyptic crisis" the Apocalypse Creed (Arnold 1997, 219). This Radical
Environmental group became the basis for much of the acts of Radical Environmental
"single-issue terrorism" (Smith 1994; W. Mullins 1997) that occurred in the 1980s.
These incidents were often not done in the name ofEF!. Dave Foreman chastised a
group of"monk:eywrenchers" for leaving an Earth First! banner at the scene of an
attack (Lee 1995, 90). The resulting negative publicity was harmful to the movement.
The use of"new" groups comprised of Earth First!ers allowed for the "decoupling"
(Arnold 1997, 75) of the larger movement from responsibility for the violence.
This mirrors the "Leaderless Resistance" strategy of the Militia/Patriot
groups, small group or individual attacks of those in the Rescue Movement, and the
cellular structure of the Animal Rights groups. Groups such as EMETIC (Evan
Mecham Eco-Terrorist International Conspiracy), Stumps Suck, Redwood Action
Team (Arnold 1997, 76), Raging Bull Avengers (Scarce 1990, 75) and Earth
Liberation Front provide deniability to the larger movement. Earth First! still
provides insight into the Radical Environmental movement and its apocalyptic visions
of a Natural catastrophe.
This Natural catastrophe or "biological meltdown" is what Christopher Manes
sees as the "cataclysmic backdrop against which a militant ecological sensibility took
shape" (Manes 1990, 24). This "biological meltdown" involves "the greatest
planetary extinction since the dinosaurs disappeared" (1990, 24) which is partly a
result of "plant and animal populations ... forced onto dwindling islands of habitat in
a sea of human industrial and agricultural development" (1990, 25). This mass
extinction differs in two ways from past ones: (1) "the present crisis is sweeping
away entire habitats" ( 1990, 26), and (2) "it is in no sense natural. It is driven by
54
human cultures and their values" (1990, 27). Manes continues this apocalyptic view
regarding "the technological culture that now dominates much of the
globe-regrettably set off on its own wayward path, the terminus of which seems to
be our termination" (1990, 28). Manes identifies radical environmentalism "as one
more chance, perhaps the last chance to tum from the path of environmental
imperialism and reconsider our place in the biosphere" (1990, 247). It is views such
as this that give the Radical Environmental movement their apocalyptic tendencies.
Others also reveal this apocalyptic notion of an imminent biological
meltdown. Rik Scarce calls this biological meltdown "ecocide" or "the annihilation of
our fellow passengers on Earth" (Scarce 1990, 10). "Todd" of South Florida Earth
First! (consisting of him and his computer) states, "the evidence is in: the
environment of the planet is coming undone" (Todd 1998). "Todd" identifies radical
environmentalism as "a semi-organized attempt to stem the tide of industrial society's
seemingly relentless destruction of the environment" (Todd 1998). Mike Roselle
(1995), one of the cofounders ofEF! writes, regarding his long held belief that "the
world would probably end in my lifetime":
this helped prepare me for a career as an environmental activist in which the end of the world is the subject of every press release, every video, and every policy statement. But the addition of irrefutable scientific proof of the coming apocalypse, be it the quick and dirty Nuclear War, or the relatively timeconsuming Deforestation/Greenhouse/Ozone Depletion scenario did not change the essential theme that it was all happening because we had been bad, and we would be punished for it in a firestorm.
Darryl Cherney, prominent EF! activist injured by a pipe bomb in 1990, also
describes the imminent future in apocalyptic terms:
50% of the global rain forests, 50% of the U.S. forests, vast amounts of mountains that have had their tops ripped off and been filled with garbage from the cities. We're losing clean water - 90% of America's water is polluted. We've lost thousands and thousands of critters to extinction. We've lost the ability to take life for granted. We've lost the innocence that you can
55
be born on this planet and be assured of enough resources to carry you through. This is really the first generation that has lived on the planet that cannot be assured that it will have a planet to live on. By the same token, we are also the last generation to have the honor and privilege of fighting for the life of the planet itself (Rizzo 1998)
These words come from the millenarian faction ofEF!, as Martha Lee would call
them, as opposed to the apocalyptic faction.
Ron Arnold identifies the millenarian faction as lying on a more pacifist end of
a scale of violence, while "the most devoted deep ecology ideologists and the
criminal element lie at the other, grim, humorless and hate-ridden" {1997, 292). It is
this end which represents for Martha Lee the apocalyptics ofEF! and the violent
Radical Environmental groups in general. In the "Statement of Principles" for EF!
(reprinted by Lee) Dave Foreman identifies this apocalyptic belief system. The fourth
principle states that
Humankind, through overpopulation, anthropocentrism, industrialization, excessive energy consumption/resource extraction, state capitalism, fatherfigure hierarchies, imperialism, pollution, and
1�atural area destruction,
threatens the basic life processes of EARTH.
Foreman went so far with his desire to stop the destruction of the wilderness that he
wrote a book, Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching, that discussed
numerous ways to damage the tools of industrialism. This served as a field guide for
how to destroy equipment, spike trees, cut down powerlines, destroy billboards,
destroy traps, make stink bombs, and other various forms of vandalism and
destruction of property.
The EF! Journal editor Peter Dustrud went even farther than Foreman by
stating in his first editorial, "The heart and soul of EARTH FIRST! philosophy is that
the human race resembles a cancer, which is rapidly devastating the Earth and Her
community of life, and leading toward a massive ecological breakdown" (Dustrud
56
1982). It is not surprising to find that part of the inspiration for Foreman comes from
Edward Abbey and his book The Monkeywrench Gang (Lee 1995). Martha Lee
identifies some of Abbey's writing, in an Earth First! article, as apocalyptic in nature.
Abbey states that the military-industrial state would end within fifty years and a very
different society would result from this (Lee 1995, 99). Although Abbey's views in
this article differ from that of Foreman's, in regards to concern over what society will
survive the catastrophe, they still represent the apocalyptic beliefs of the Radical
Environmental groups.
It is the actions of the apocalyptic faction, after they left EF!, which give
Martha Lee the most concern. She believes that the apocalyptics
left the movement to pursue their goals independently; they still hope for an imminent apocalypse, and they still believe that their function is to preserve as much wilderness as possible before that event using whatever tactics they deem necessary . . . The belief system of these individuals is also much more extreme: it gives no special status to human life. (1995, 149)
Indeed they may have moved on to other groups such as the Earth Liberation Front
or, in a crossover to Animal Rights groups, the Animal Liberation Front. Ron Arnold,
in testimony before Congress, stated, "I have been able to determine that certain
criminal Earth Firsters, Earth Liberation Front (ELF) members and the Animal
Liberation Front (ALF) members are the same people" (Arnold 1998). Barry
Clausen, an investigator who infiltrated EF!, echoes this crossover idea in the same
Congressional hearing describing the work of his organization, North American
Research (Clausen 1998). It is within this crossover into more violent groups in
which we begin to see the crossover into the Animal Rights groups and their
violence. In the words of an ELF member, "I can't just sit back and watch as
woodland areas are destroyed, as animals are terrorized and abused, as ecological
57
destruction takes place and the human race turns planet Earth into a rubbish heap"
( Underground #8 1997).
The ELF and ALF have helped to blur the lines between these two groups;
Radical Environmental and Animal Rights. Rik Scarce (1990) sees these as merely
part of three divisions of the same movement with "its land-based emphasis
represented by EF!; the sea-going aspect found in the Sea Shepherds; and a third
branch, Animal Liberation" (1990, 10). Rich Bernardi, an EF! and Animal Liberation
protester, does not "see that there is any difference really between EF! and Animal
Rights" (Scarce 1990, 117). This cooperation can be seen in actions that occurred in
1998 in which both organizations claimed joint responsibility. This does not
necessarily mean that they are one in the same as far as Animal Rights being a
division of Radical Environmentalism, as Scarce argues they are. Christopher Manes
takes the opposite view. Manes sees the Animal Rights movement as only: "willing to
extend the circle of ethical and moral standing . . . to animals . . . It does not include
nonsentient beings such as plants or rivers or mountains, which have to seek
prot�ction from other than the animal rights movement" (Manes 1990, 146). Despite
the difference in philosophy that may or may not exist, they are linked by their
apocalyptic beliefs-the belief that there is an imminent catastrophe, "biological
meltdown" for the Radical Environmental groups, and as we shall see the exploitation
and deaths of millions of animals every year for Animal Rights groups.
Animal Rights Groups
Modem Animal Rights groups derive their identity from Peter Singer's
Animal Liberation and from the works of Tom Regan (Monaghan 1997). Rachel
Monaghan identifies Singer's "supreme principle is that of equality" for animals and
58
humans (1997, 107). This rising up of identifying animals as equal to humans sets the
stage for the apocalyptic beliefs of Animal Rights groups. The idea of
anthropomorphism, in which human characteristics are given to animals, began to
make its way into the movement (Luther and Simon 1992). Much like the Rescue
Movement identifying fetuses as human and therefore abortion was a large-scale
destruction of human life� the anthropomorphism of Animal Rights allowed the killing
and exploitation of animals to be viewed in a similar light.
Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society states that
that we are "living in an age of mass extinction" (Watson 1998). Watson goes on to
give us an idea about the importance of this mass extinction:
To be responsible for extinction is to commit blasphemy against the divine. It is the greatest of all possible crimes, more evil than murder, more appalling than genocide, more monstrous than even the apparent unlimited perversities of the human mind. To be responsible for the complete and utter destruction of a unique and sacred life form is arrogance that seethes with evil, for the very opposite of evil is live. It is no accident that these two words spell out each other in reverse.
Watson's concern of animals over humans is also reflected in David Morris' book,
&rrth Warrior, in which Morris traveled with Watson aboard the boat Sea Shepherd
II:
"Well John" (an individual that confronted Watson), Paul said, "when we planned this campaign, we didn't sit around and ask ourselves, 'I wonder what John's gonna think if we sink these ships, or maybe we should ask John what his opinion is.' Frankly, John, we don't give a damn what you or anybody else on this planet thinks. We didn't sink those ships for you. We did it for the whales. It's the whales we care about, John. Not you." (1995, 184)
Morris provides some of his own apocalyptic thinking in regards to "overfishing,"
"incidental bycatch" and other harm done to the oceans, saying that the "self-delusive
con job or cover-up, concealing an onslaught so ruinous that we now threaten to
reduce three-quarters of the globe to a biological wasteland" (1995, 92). In the same
59
line of thought Morris sees the "so-called solutions ... often just disguise or delay
the catastrophe" (1995, 11).
ALF activist Rodney Coronado, jailed for aiding and abetting arson at
Michigan State University in 1992, echoes this:
But when we are talking about the preservation of our life-support system, the earth, and prevention of the extinction of literally thousands of species which play an integral role in a healthy environment, then allowing that to happen is what has gone too far. To stop it whatever we are forced to now may seem extreme, but will be appreciated by future generations who will be able to live and survive thanks to this generation's actions on behalf of earth and animals.
The question is whether we've already gone too far by allowing governments and corporations to play Russian roulette with the fate of this planet and our future without taking greater personal responsibility to stop it at all costs. We, as citizens of earth, and as the guardians of the planet for future, [sic] generations can never go too far in preserving earth and the many Nations of Life upon it. Such is our obligation. (Satya 1998)
These beliefs, while discussing environmental catastrophes, for the most part
focus on the "mass extinction" of the animals thus setting them apart from the
Radical Environmental groups. Mass extinction is not the only catastrophic focus of
the Animal Rights groups.
The apocalyptic focus of other Animal Rights groups is based on the more
immediate loss of life or exploitation of animal life that occurs in society. These
groups are the most active when it comes to violence. These groups are represented
by the ALF (and its various cells), Paint Panthers, Crustacean Liberation Front, and
other various groups. These groups are based on the Band of Mercy founded by
Ronnie Lee in England in 1972 (Arnold 1997; Monaghan 1997). After being released
from jail in 1976, Ronnie Lee started the Animal Liberation Front to continue actions
against animal abusers (Arnold 1997; Monaghan 1997). The ALF guidelines, as
posted on the Animal Liberation Frontline Information Service (ALFIS) website,
60
identify one of the reasons behind its existence: "To reveal the horror and atrocities
committed against animals behind locked doors."16
It is these "atrocities," which
include death, abuse and exploitation, that give this segment of the Animal Rights
movement their apocalyptic beliefs.
As was noted in the first paragraph of this section, the abuse, exploitation, or
even death of any animal is likened to the apocalyptic visions of the Rescue
Movement. These two groups have very similar apocalyptic notions in that the
catastrophe of their apocalypticism is as simple as the loss of an individual life, be it
human or animal. The A.L.F. Primer ( 1998), which all prospective participants are
encouraged to read, states in its "Legal Disclaimer" that:
We would never dream of encouraging someone to use the proven-effective methods presented within to free innocent beings from the depths of hell, or to destroy the tools used to torture, mutilate, and murder them. We'd much prefer you sit at home watching TV and remain apathetic.
The A.L.F. Primer goes on to give the guidelines, descriptions of the ALF,
other information on not only how to get started in "direct action" but also how to do
it. The Primer also quotes an ALF member on his view of the ALF, giving more
insight into the apocalyptic beliefs of the ALF: "We feel a sense of urgency for the
animals whose pain and imminent death is absolutely real to them today" (1998).
Others in the movement echo this sense of imminent deaths.
ALF activist, and co-founder of the New Jersey Animal Defense League,
Darius Fullmer thought it necessary for him to become an ALF activist because "it's
something I feel in my heart. Turning my back on anyone as they are suffering and
dying is just not an option. The animals deserve nothing less" (Fullmer 1998). J. P.
Goodwin, national director of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, goes into more
graphic detail: "I think violent would be piling mink into a gas chamber where they
61
choke to death. And having the skin peeled off their backs to make frivolous luxury
products" (Williams 1996). Communiques received from various ALF actions also
reflect this sense of suffering and dying of the animals.
The ALF will often send communiques to the media or through People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals (PET A) or the North American ALF Support Group
(NAALFSG). One communique after an October 5, 1997 raid on an Illinois fur farm
stated, "Millions of animals are slaughtered each year at the hands of the fur industry
and by their support from callous and selfish humans. This is the season of blood. Fur
farmers and animal murderers beware!"17
Much like the Rescue Movement an ALF
group in New Jersey stated in its communique, "This is just the beginning. We have
declared war on all those who profit off of death." 18
The Justice Department ( a more
radical Animal Rights group) in a poisoning hoax before Thanksgiving 1997 on the
East coast gets very graphic in their reasons for their "attack":
Every year more than 2 hundred million turkeys are killed for human consumption. At birth they are de-beaked caus [sic] severe pain and spend 13 (to) 24 weeks living in crowded amonia [sic] filled dusty windowless sheds never seeing daylight until they are shipped off to be killed. In these death camps each bird has as little as half a square foot of space to live in.
THIS HOLOCAUST WILL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.19
Another ALF communique regarding two fur farm raids in Canada in October
1995 was just as damning of animal exploitation in the fur industry:
We can think of few things crueller [sic] in this world than the confinement of a living, feeling, intelligent and wild animal to one or two cubic feet of life so that they can be murdered and mutilated to further the hedonistic pleasures of some thoughtless man wishing to decorate his woman. There is no logical justification for th�aughter of these animals. Nobody needs a mink coat except those mink.
These communiques are just a sample of the many found on the ALFIS website.
Most give one version or another of the catastrophe that is the animal industries; be it
62
fur farms or the fur shops that profit from them, restaurants serving meat, or other
industries that exploit animals. While not involving the grand apocalypse of a
"biological meltdown," End-Times scenarios, or industrial society's destruction of
itself, the Animal Rights groups' anthropomorphism raises this catastrophe to the
level of others in their minds.
Rachel Monaghan, while not talking about anthropomorphism specifically,
identifies the "belief in animal rights contends that animals have 'rights' parallel and
equal to those of humans" ( 1997, 114). By taking this belief a step farther, Animal
Rights activists justify their engagement in direct actions and use of violence
(Monaghan 1997). This strong identification with the animals, through the
anthropomorphic beliefs, creates an apocalyptic atmosphere where the death of or
extinction of animals is, in the words of Paul Watson (1998), "more appalling than
genocide." Some go as far as to identify more with the animals than with humans.
Rod Coronado, from inside his prison cell, talks about what he thinks when he hears
coyotes singing:
I know my animal relations know why I'm here, and are blessing me with their friendship and brother-and sisterhood. Hopefully I've proven to them that I'm more like them than I am like the two-leggeds who wage war upon them. (Satya 1998)
The similarity between the Rescue Movement and Animal Rights groups when it
comes to the identification of themselves with the victims is very interesting. It is this
identification which gives the imminent and assured destruction/abuse of the animals
such strength for this group. As we saw in the discussion of the Rescue Movement
this assured apocalypse makes imminence a more powerful variable than for the other
groups. This insured (in the sense of knowing when the apocalypse will occur)
imminence gives Animal Rights and the Rescue Movement something the other
63
groups do not have: foreknowledge of the apocalypse they are focused on. Chapter
IV will show us how important this variable will have on the violence related to these
groups. This similarity and others across groups will be briefly discussed in the
conclusion of this section.
Similarities of the Apocalyptic Groups
There are numerous similarities amongst these groups. These groups have
several characteristics, regardless of typologies, that are important to keep in mind
when discussing the apocalyptic nature of them. John George and Laird Wilcox
(1996) lay out twenty-two traits of extremists in American Extremists. Of these
twenty-two, four are particularly applicable to the examined apocalyptic groups.
These four are: (1) "Tendency to view opponents and critics as essentially evil," (2)
"Manichaen worldview" (absolute good or evil), (3) "Doomsday thinking," and (4)
"Belief that it's okay to do bad things in the service of a 'good' cause" ( George and
Wilcox 1996, 56-61). We have seen each present in the groups discussed above.
Along with these similarities there are some that are more specific between groups.
The Rescue Movement, Animal Rights groups and to some extent the Radical
Environmental groups have a strong identification with the "victims" of the
catastrophes they seek to stop. For Animal Rights and Radical Environmental groups,
this is a result of their biocentric or ecocentric beliefs. For the Rescue Movement, it is
based on their religious beliefs in that all human life is sacred. This identification ties
in with the idea of imminence discussed in Chapter II. The imminent and insured
destruction of the fetus/animal/tree/mountain gives these groups some insight into the
apocalypse not seen in the other groups. This insurance is because those in the
Rescue Movement know "x" number of fetuses will die on "y" day. Animal Rights
64
groups know "x" number of animals will be slaughtered or abused on "y" day.
Radical Environmental groups know that "x" trees will be cut down on "y" day. This
"appointment with the apocalypse" is not evident in other groups for the most part.
The Branch Davidians had this insurance when they learned of the BATF raid
beforehand, which fit into one of the Seven Seals (Kopel and Blackman 1997, 84).
The other groups, for the most part, have a sense of imminence in the coming of the
apocalypse they are concerned with, but not with the certainty of the Animal Rights/
Abortions Protesters/Radical Environmental groups or the Branch Davidians. This
idea of imminence will be discussed in Chapter IV as it may play an important role in
determining the frequency of violence.
Another similarity amongst these groups is that all of them except the End
Times groups engage in an individual, cellular or "Leaderless Resistance" form of
organization. The Branch Davidians merely separated themselves from society, albeit
in a larger group. The Rescue Movement, Radical Environmental, and Animal Rights
groups all have "field guides" on how to perform actions. The Rescue Movement has
the AOG Manual; Radical Environmental have Ecodefense; and Animal Rights have
The Final Nail #1 and #2, The A.L.F. Primer, and Arson Around with Auntie ALF.
Militia/Patriot groups have catalogs available to them to purchase how-to books from
bomb making to survival food to book and videotape purchasing. All believe the
government unfairly persecutes them (Koernke 1993; Velluci 1998). They all have
strong communications systems in place. All have a presence on the Internet. As we
have seen, there is much cross-typing among the first three groups examined and
among the last three groups examined.
65
Overcoming the Cross-typing Problem
The first three groups show a pattern of strong cross-typing between
Militia/Patriot and End-Times groups with smaller, but possibly growing, crossover
with the Rescue Movement. As was noted the distinction drawn between the
Militia/Patriots and End-Timers is a matter of focus. The Militia/Patriot groups focus
on the loss of Constitutional freedoms and less so on the Second Coming. The End
Timers focus more on the signs of the Second Coming while pointing to happenings
in the secular world as proof of this. Often these two can cross paths or, as Michael
Barlrun (1996b) stated, "intersect." Those in the Rescue Movement do have their
"eyes to the heavens," so to speak, believing the Second Coming may soon arrive,
but their focus is on the loss of human life. Human life is supernaturally given by
God, not just created by man. This distinction between the loss of a human created
life, shared by with other groups, and the loss of God given life is what separates
them from the Unnatural apocalyptic types.
The Rescue Movement and the End-Times Religious groups thus occupy the
Supernatural apocalyptic type because of the Supernatural focus they place on their
respective apocalypse. The killing of a divinely created being during an abortion and
the blame placed on Satanic forces responsible for it, sets the Rescue Movement
squarely into this type. The belief that any and all coming catastrophes, regardless of
whether they are Natural or Unnatural, are divinely inspired, and prophesied in the
Bible, sets the End-Times groups also into this type. Militia/Patriot groups are not so
easily placed in their respective type.
Militia/Patriot groups do have End-Times beliefs which may come about in
their writings, but for the most part focus on the loss of freedoms, Constitutional and
66
otherwise. This focus is what narrowly sets them apart from the End-Times groups
and the Supernatural type. The Anti-Industrialffechnology groups are more easily
typed. This group sees the coming and inevitable collapse of the industrial society due
to technology's runaway progress. This progress, as the Unabomber points out,
results in a loss of freedom for humans. There is nothing Supernatural about this.
There is, however, a belief that there may be a Natural catastrophe as a result of the
runaway of industrial society. Like the differentiation between Militia/Patriot groups
and End-Times groups we must look at the focus. Because the focus is placed on the
loss of human freedom (an anthropocentric viewpoint) as opposed to the loss of the
environment (a biocentric viewpoint) this group is placed in the Unnatural type.
The Radical Environmental groups also talk about the negative impact of the
industrial society, technology and capitalism on the world. But, as discussed above,
since their biocentric views focus on the catastrophe of a "biological meltdown," this
separates them from the Unnatural type of the Anti-Technology/Capitalists. This
crossover is not as big a problem for the Animal Rights groups. Animal Rights
groups also focus on the negative impacts of industrial society and capitalism ( or
consumerism) on the killing of animals and whole species. The difference drawn
again is due to their biocentric beliefs and the anthropomorphism attributed to them.
The characteristics and beliefs of these groups are what set them into their respective
types.
Figure 2 provides a more accurate representation of how these groups fit into
our typology. This figure represents the fact that a continuum exists upon which
these groups can be placed rather than the delineated representation of Figure 1. The
extent to which these groups cross-type into one type or another is shown by the
left/right arrows next to the groups. The vertical broken lines represent that lack of a
67
UNNATURAL I I
◄ ABORTION PROTESTERS.4 ◄ I RADICAL -+
: : ENVIRONMENT ALI t
I I
I I
..,__: MILITIA/PA TRI OT llli : : ��IMAL RIGHTS-+ I I
I · I
I I
◄ END-TIMES: -+, ◄ANTI-TECHNOLOGY�I I
Figure 2. Apocalyptic Typology Revised.
solid border that was present in Figure 1. The Rescue Movement occupy the
Supernatural with some identification with the Unnatural. The End-Times groups
have some cross-typing into concern over an Unnatural apocalypse. Militia/Patriot
groups occupy the Unnatural for the most part with some cross-typing into the
Supernatural. The Anti-Technology groups fit almost wholly within the Unnatural
type with some cross-typing into the Natural. Radical Environmental groups range
from partly into the Unnatural to the full extent of the Natural. And finally the Animal
Rights groups occupy a small presence in the Unnatural while extending all the way
to the edge of the Natural.
The small extent of cross-typing which occurs is to be expected. It is not
expected that this will negatively impact the data on violence since the groups
involved (Rescue Movement, Animal Rights, etc.) are distinguishable by their acts of
violence and targets chosen� this will be apparent in the examination of the data in the
Chapter IV. The creation of this typology, while being a fresh look at apocalyptic
groups, will allow us to view the violence of these groups in a new light. Similarities
and differences in targets, tactics, locations, etc., will allow us to see how the
typology created works in categorizing these groups. Ifwe can look at the
apocalyptic makeup of a group in the future, can we, by using this typology, predict
68
what types of violence they will engage in or what types of target or tactics they will
use? This will be the test for the typology put forth by the analysis of the data
presented in Chapter IV.
69
CHAPTER IV
VIOLENT INCIDENTS FOR APOCALYPTIC GROUPS
Methods
Data for this thesis were gathered from numerous sources. Publications and
Internet sites of watchdog groups were particularly helpful in gathering data on
incidents. For Animal Rights groups, the Animal Liberation Frontline Infonnation
Service (ALFIS) website gives detailed infonnation and archived news articles of
incidents of Animal Rights groups, actions they support. Infonnation from these
sources allowed for a creation of a detailed database of over 1,200 incidents of
violence for the time period 1990-1997.
Data for Militia/Patriot groups were gathered from various books regarding
the Militia/Patriot groups (Dees and Corcoran 1996; Stem 1996). Publications of
groups such as the Anti-Defamation League (Beyond the Bombing 1995; Vigilante
Justice 1997) and websites such as The Militia Watchdog (Militia Follies 1996,
Calendar of Conspiracy 1997) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (Patriot Crimes
1996) also provide data on violent incidents. J. Gordon Melton (1999) provided
reinforcement of my findings that the Branch Davidians are the only American violent
End-Times groups that fit the criteria established in Chapter I. Data for the
Unabomber were gathered from Lemonick (1995). Data from Radical Environmental
groups were gathered from the ALFIS and Arnold (1997). Animal Rights groups
70
data were gathered predominantly from the ALFIS website and also Arnold (1997).
These sources provided the bulk of the data obtained for the database.
However, data gathered for the Rescue Movement varied greatly from those
provided by the National Abortion Federation (NAF). This discrepancy necessitated
the use of some more general data regarding the Rescue Movement groups. This
discrepancy was evident in incidents of vandalism, thefts, arson, and assaults. By
incorporating these data into the database, there are 1886 incidents with which to
work with. Despite the lack of detailed infonnation to go along with the NAF data
the exclusion of over 600 incidents in one group made it necessary to use these
numbers. Problems posed by using this data will be seen, and pointed out below.
The data were entered into the various categories described in Chapter I:
Date (month/day/year), City (if known), State, Name of Organization (if known),
Type of Group (from the six listed in Appendix A), Type oflncident (from the seven
listed in Appendix B) and any other miscellaneous infonnation (names of people
and/or places, detailed description of attack, etc.). For the data analysis provided in
this chapter, only the Year, State, Group, and Incident are necessary.
Results
Table 4 displays the types of violence used by each group. The two extremes
of our typology (as expressed in Figure 2}--Rescue Movement and Animal Rights
groups-represent 92.3 percent of the total incidents of violence. End-Times and
Anti-Industrial/Technology are the least represented. Militia/Patriot and Radical
Environmental groups are nearly identical in tenns of the quantity of incidents, but
differ in the types of incidents committed.
71
Table 4
Incidents of Violence for Apocalyptic Groups
Rescue End-Times
Militia/ Anti-Industrial
Radical Animal Rights Total
Movement Patriot Environmental
Homicides/ 10 I 15 2 I 2 29 Attempts (32.3, 1.4) (3.2, 50.0) (48.4, 21.7) (6.5, 33.3) (3.2, 1.5) (6.5, 0.2) (1.6)
Bombings/ 13 - 13 4 5 15 50 Attempts (26.0, 1.8) (26.0, 18.8) (8.0, 66.7) (10.0, 7.4) (30.0, 1.5) (2.7)
Assaults 50 - 7 - 2 - 59 (84.8, 7.1) (11.9, 10.1) (3.4, 2.9) (3.1)
Arson I 93 - I - 13 65 172 (54.1, 13.2) (.6, 1.5) (7.6, 19.1) (37.8, 6.3) (9.1)
Weapons - I 29 - - - 30 Charges (3.3, 50.0) (96.7, 42.0) (1.6)
Thefts 31 - 3 - - 74 108 (28.7, 4.4) (2.8, 4.4) (68.5, 7.2) (5.7)
Vandalism I 509 - 1 - 47 879 1436 (35.5, 72.1) (0.1, 1.5) (3.3, 69.1) (61.2, 84.9) (76.2)
Totals I 706 2 69 6 68 1035 1886 (37.4) (0.1) (3.7) (0.3) (3.6) (54.9)
Note: Percentages are represented in parentheses. The first number represents percentage of the total incidents committed by the respective group. The second number represents the percentage of the groups total incidents of violence are in that category of violence. For the totals of the incidents (last column) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents are in that category of violence. For the totals of the groups (last row) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents are attributed to that group.
Despite the representation given in Figure 2, the two extremes (Rescue
Movement and Animal Rights) are similar in their methods of operation (m.o.), in
terms of types of acts committed. The two groups with the most crossover,
Militia/Patriot and Radical Environmental, differ in their m.o. but not in level of
violence. The least violent groups appear to be those at the center of the apocalyptic
thinking of the other groups. End-Times groups seem to be the center of the Rescue
Movement and Militia/Patriot movement and the Anti-Industrial/Technology
ideology is the center for the Animal Rights and Radical Environmental groups.
Figure 3 shows the progression over time in terms of overall incidents of
violence. The general trend is an increase across the decade with a drop-off in 1995
followed by a large increase in 1996 and again into 1997. It is perhaps easy to say
that following the Oklahoma City bombing there was a period of"shock" in which
even the apocalyptic groups stopped to ponder the scope of what had occurred. In
fact to look at 1995 (Figure 4) in detail, after the OKC bombing, on April 19, there is
a small spike and then a drop-off over the rest of the year. Note the high level of
incidents in the beginning of the year for Figures 4, 5, and 6 is due to the NAF data
being dated as 1/1/9*). When compared to the data from the years previous and
following, I 994 (Figure 5) and 1996 (Figure 6), there is no such pattern of lesser
numbers of incidents in towards the end of the year. In fact for these years there is a
steady amount of incidents in 1994 and in 1996 a spikes occurring during the end of
the year. A different picture than what is seen in 1995.
The drop-off in 199 5 cannot be associated with a drop-off in incidents of
Militia/Patriot groups, often associated with the bombing. The Militia/Patriot groups
in fact show a large increase in acts from 1994 to 1995, and steady increases through
1996 (Figure 7). What is shown instead is a large drop of over 100 incidents of
73
500
400
300
200
100
0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97
Date
Figure 3. Total Incidents by Year.
50 46
40
� 30
20
13
10
0
12/27/94 4/6/95
Figure 4. 1995 Total Incidents.
50
40
� 30
21
20
. 10
0
12/27/93
Figure 5. 1994 Total Incidents.
7/15195 10/23/95 1/31/96
DATE
7115194 10/23/94 1 /31195
DATE
74
Animal Rights groups violence. Looking at Figure 8, the drop-off occurs in early
1995 and rises dramatically in 1996. It is likely not a coincidence that a major figure
in the Animal Rights movement, Rod Coronado, pleaded guilty in March of 1995 to
aiding and abetting the 1992 arson at Michigan State University. With the large
impact the Animal Rights movement's actions have in the total of number ofincidents
(55 percent in Table 4), it is likely that this one group is responsible for the drop-off
in incidents seen in 1995, not because of any effect from the OKC bombing.
Just as incidents vary over time, they also vary across the states. Table 5
shows us the states with the number of incidents committed over the 1990-1997 time
period. These states are ranked by frequency of incidents and then their ranking in
population. A Pearson correlation of 0.67 leads us to believe that population of the
state has some bearing on the frequency of violence. This may have to do with the
availability of targets for attacks. Since the Animal Rights groups weigh so heavily in
the data this may be a likely explanation. The higher the population the more "animal
abusing" businesses are likely to be found, e.g., fur stores, research facilities private
and public, and restaurants. What is interesting is that despite the high correlation,
some of the most violent states are not so high on the population ranking.
The anomalous states such as Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
D.C. (not a state, but a valid territory for the examination in this work, especially in
light of the violence to population difference) are interesting to note in that despite
their low population ranking, they are high on the incidents of violence. In the
opposite direction are Massachusetts, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, and even
Florida. These states are higher in population but rank lower on the frequency of
violence ranking. There does not appear to be any reason why these high population
states rank low on the violence scale.
75
60
50
()' 40
30
u.. 20
10
0 I
12/27/95 4/5196
Figure 6. 1996 Total Incidents.
Cl> ::,
10
5
0 0 0 0
5/8/92
Figure 7. Militia/Patriot Incidents.
200
(>" CD ::,
� 100
0
20 20
I I
10/22/96 1/30/97
DATE
6115/96 10/28/97
April 19, 1996 OKC 11onoog DATE
34
24
11/12/89 3/27/91 8/8192 12/21193 515195 9116196 1129198
Figure 8. Animal Rights Groups Incidents. DATE
76
77
Table 5
State Rankings by Incident and Population
State Incidents Population State Incidents Population Rank Rank Rank Rank
California 1 1 Maine 25 39
New York 2 3 Massachusetts 26 13
Ohio 3 7 Georgia 27 10
Minnesota 4 20 Missouri 28 16
Washington 5 15 Idaho 29 40
Oregon 6 28 Nevada 30 36
Tennessee 7 17 Oklahoma 31 27
Utah 8 34 Alabama 32 23
New Jersey 9 9 New Mexico 33 37
Maryland 10 19 Louisiana 34 22
Texas 11 2 New Hampshire 35 42
North Carolina 12 11 South Dakota 36 46
Indiana 13 14 Arkansas 37 33
D.C. 14 50 Kansas 38 32
Pennsylvania 15 6 North Dakota 39 47
Michigan 16 8 Vermont 40 49
Wisconsin 17 18 Iowa 41 30
Florida 18 4 Kentucky 42 25
Montana 19 44 Mississippi 43 31
Illinois 20 5 Nebraska 44 38
Colorado 21 24 South Carolina 45 26
Connecticut 22 29 West Virginia 46 35
Virginia 23 12 Wyoming 47 51
Arizona 24 21
Correlation of Incidents Rank and Population Rank = 0.671 (Pearson),p value = 0.000
Table 6 presents the low population/high frequency states of Oregon, Utah,
and D.C., with a breakdown by year and by groups. The low population states of
Utah, Minnesota, and Washington D.C. are influenced almost exclusively by Animal
Rights incidents. Utah has had a near doubling of incidents every year since 1994, all
Animal Rights related. This is likely due to the influence of the Straightedge youth
movement that has entered Salt Lake City. This movement will be discussed briefly
during the examination of Animal Rights groups. Washington D.C. has a steady
amount of incidents, again almost exclusively Animal Rights. Minnesota has a
dramatic increase in 1995 and another increase in 1996 with a substantial drop-off in
1997. This is likely due to the $2 million arson at Alaska Fur Co. in Bloomington on
November 12, 1996 and the arson at Haertel Co. in Eden Prairie on December 26,
1996.
These two incidents are likely to have caused an increase in law enforcement
focus on the activities of these groups. This would make it more likely that fewer
incidents would occur in the future. If this is true, one can expect to see a decrease in
future incidents in Utah after the arrest of Animal Rights activists there. In Oregon
there is a more balanced number of incidents. The even breakdown between Animal
Rights and Radical Environmental is not seen in any of the other states, especially
when one considers that nearly one-third of the Radical Environmental incidents
occurred in Oregon. The dispersion of population (relation of population to size of
state) amongst these states, excluding D.C., does not support the "more population
equals more targets" hypothesis above. Therefore other variabf es must be present
that can explain this. This is something which is not within the scope of this paper to
answer and for which further research needs to be done.
78
79
Table 6
Low Population\High Frequency Breakdown
Washington D.C.
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
RM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
MIP 0 0 0 0 0 o. 0 0 1
RE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AR 5 0 5 4 6 3 0 4 27
Total 5 0 5 4 6 3 0 5 29
Minnesota
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
RM 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
MIP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
RE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
AR 0 7 4 1 2 24 31 2 71
Total 1 7 4 1 3 24 31 2 74
Oregon
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
RM 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 2 8
MIP 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 4
RE 2 1 0 0 0 2 14 1 20
AR 0 3 0 0 2 3 15 8 31
Total 3 4 3 1 2 7 31 12 63
Utah
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
RM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MIP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
RE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AR 0 2 4 0 4 8 13 23 54
Total 0 2 4 0 4 8 13 23 54
RM = Rescue Movement, M/P = Militia/Patriot, RE = Radical Environmental, AR = Animal Rights
There appear to be explanations behind patterns in the overall violence of
groups. There are possible explanations for the dramatic decrease in violence from
1994-1995 and then the increase into 1996. The Oklahoma City bombing may not
have had as much impact on overall violence as the arrest of an Animal Rights leader.
The bombing did have an impact on the increase in Militia/Patriot incidents (reflected
in the weapons charges incidents) as law enforcement focused on this group,
resulting in numerous arrests preventing possible violence. There is a strong
correlation between population and frequency of violence related to these apocalyptic
groups. Explanations for why this occurs were briefly explored but cannot be
adequately tested in the scope of this work. This is left for further research. There is
an upward trend in violence that should be of concern to not only the government but
also the citizens of the United States. The upcoming Millenium and possible Y2K
"crisis" may only cause further increases to occur. The next step is to look to see if
there are any specific patterns that may cause the most concern and why. Due to the
lack of violent incidents by the End-Times groups and Anti-Industrialffechnology
groups they will be only briefly discussed within the other groups.
Focus on Destruction of Property
From Table 4 there are four numbers that stand out from the rest. These
numbers are the percentage of total incident, per group, that are of one type of
violence. For the Militia/Patriot movement this number is 42 percent of incidents
related to weapons charges. For the Rescue Movement this number is 72 percent of
their violence is vandalism. The Radical Environmental groups have 69 percent of
their violence corning from vandalism. Animal Rights groups concentrate 85 percent
80
of their violence in acts of vandalism. These three groups can be examined together
because of their focus on the use of the same type of violence.
Tables 7, 8 and 9 show the breakdown of incidents by year for the Rescue
Movement, Radical Environmental and Animal Rights groups respectively.
Consistently vandalism is the most pervasive with arson far behind as the second
most frequent incident committed. These three groups have a focus on targeting
property for their violence. The exception to this is the number of homicides/attempts
by the Rescue Movement. This willingness to attack humans sets the Rescue
Movement apart from Radical Environmental and Animal Rights groups.
The Rescue Movement (Table 7) has 89.5 percent ofincidents coming from
property crimes, arson, theft and vandalism. Radical Environmental groups (Table 8)
have 88 percent of their violence coming from arson and vandalism. Animal Rights
(Table 9) has 98.5 percent of their violence coming from not only arson and
vandalism but also theft. Each group targets property for the same reason.
In Chapter III reasons behind the use of property focused violence was
discussed for these groups. The data support this use of property focused violence by
these groups to increase the costs for abortion providers, environmental abusers, and
animal abusers. Increasing costs to the owners of these targets is the point of this
violence from these groups. Patterns of violence for these groups help to show if this
tactic is a successful one in the eyes of the respective groups.
Figure 9 shows the overall level of violence for the Rescue Movement, across
the time period. The drop-off from 1993 to 1994 is explained, by Kaplan (1996b), as
a result of the 1994 Freedom of Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). What is not
explainable is the increase from 1996 to 1997. This year may be an anomaly, as NAF
data show a drop of 111 incidents, down below the 1994, 1995 and 1996 levels.21
81
Table 7
Incidents of Violence by Year for Rescue Movement
Homicides/ Bombings/ Assault Arson Theft Vandalism Total
Attempts Attempts 1990 - l 6 10 2 26 45
(2.2, 7.7) (13.3, 12.0) (22.2, 10.8) (4.4, 6.5) (57.8, 5.1) (6.37)
1991 - l 6 8 1 44 60 (1.7, 7.7) (10.0, 12.0) (13.3, 8.6) (1.7, 3.2) (73.3, 8.6) (8.5)
1992 - - 9 18 5 116 148 (6.1, 18.0) (12.2, 19.4) (3.4, 16.1) (78.4, 22.8) (21.0)
1993 2 - 9 13 3 113 140 (1.4, 20.0) (6.4, 18.0) (9.3, 14.0) (2.1, 9.7) (80.7, 22.2) (19.8)
1994 4 5 7 10 4 42 72 (5.6, 40.0) (6.9, 38.5) (9.7, 14.0) (13.9, 10.8) (5.6, 12.9) (58.3, 8.3) (10.2)
1995 3 1 3 15 3 31 56 (5.4, 30.0) (1.8, 7.7) (5.4, 6.0) (26.8, 16.1) (5.4, 9.7) (55.4, 6.1) (7.9)
1996 1 2 1 7 7 33 51 (2.0, 10.0) (3.9, 15.4) (2.0, 2.0) (13.7, 7.5) (13.7, 22.6) (64.7, 6.5) (7.2)
1997 - 3 9 12 6 104 134 (2.24, 23.1) (6.7, 18.0) (9.0, 12.9) (4.5, 19.4) (77.6, 20.4) (19.0)
Total 10 13 50 93 31 509 706 (1.4) (1.8) (7.1) (13.2) (4.4) (72.1)
Note: Percentages are represented in parentheses. The first number represents percentage of the total incidents committed that year were of this nature. The second number represents the percentage of the incidents of this nature committed during that year. For the totals of the year (last column) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents occurred that year compared to the cumulative number. For the totals of the incidents (last row) the percentage represents percentage of cumulative incidents are of this nature.
00 N
Table 8
Incidents of Violence by Year for Radical Environmental Groups
Homicides/ Bombings/ Assault Arson Vandalism Total Attemets Attemets
1990 I I - I 2 10 14
(7.1, I 00.0) (7.1, 50.0) (14.3, 15.4) (71.4, 21.3) (20.6)
1991 I - - I I 4 6 (16.7, 50.0) (16.7, 7.7) (66.7, 8.5) (8.8)
1992 I - - - - 5 5
(10.6, 7.4) (7.4)
1993 I - l - I 4 6 (16.7, 20.0) (16.7, 7.7) (66.7, 8.5) (8.8)
1994 I - - - 5 7 12 (41.7, 38.5) (58.3, 14.9) (17.7)
1995 I - 2 - - 6 8 (25.0, 40.0) (75.0, 12.8) (11.8)
1996 I - 2 - 4 9 15 (13.3, 40.0) (26.7, 30.8) (60.0, 19.2) (22.1)
1997 I - - - - 2 2 (100.0, 4.3) (2.94)
Total I I 5 2 13 47 68 (1.5) (7.4) (2.9) (19.1) (69.1)
Note: Percentages are represented in parentheses. The first number represents percentage of the total incidents committed that year were of this nature. The second number represents the percentage of the incidents ofthis nature committed during that year. For the totals of the year (last column) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents occurred that year compared to the cumulative number. For the totals of the incidents (last row) the percentage represents percentage of cumulative incidents are of this nature.
Table 9
Incidents of Violence by Year for Animal Rights Groups
Homicides/ Bombings/ Arson Theft Vandalism Total
IAttemets Attemets
1990 - 2 3 5 22 32 (6.3, 13.3) (9.4, 4.6) (15.6, 6.8) (68.8, 2.5) (3.l)
1991 I - - 5 8 4 17
(29.4, 7.7) (47.l, 10.8) (23.5, 0.5) (1.6)
1992 I - - 3 3 23 29
(10.3, 4.6) (10.3, 4.1) (79.3, 2.6) (2.8)
1993 I 1 6 10 I 86 104 (1.0, 50.0) (5.8, 40.0) (9.6, 15.4) (1.0, 1.4) (82.7, 9.8) ( l 0.l)
1994 I - 3 5 4 167 179 (1.7, 20.0) (2.8, 7.7) (2.2, 5.4) (93.3, 19.0) (l 7.3)
1995 I - - 5 4 67 76(6.6, 7.7) (5.3, 5.4) (88.2, 7.7) (7.3)
1996 I - 3 10 23 203 239(1.3, 20.0) (4.2, 15.4) (9.6, 3Ll) (84.9, 23.1) (23.l)
1997 I 1 1 24 26 307 359(0.3, 50.0) (0.3, 6.7) (6.7, 36.9) (7.2, 35.1) (85.5, 34.9) (34.7)
Total I 2 15 65 74 879 1035(0.2) (1.5) (6.3) (7.2) (84.9)
Note: Percentages are represented in parentheses. The first number represents percentage of the total incidents committed that year were ofthis nature. The second number represents the percentage of the incidents of this nature committed during that year. For the totals of the year (last column) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents occurred that year compared to the cumulative number. For the totals of the incidents (last row) the percentage represents percentage of cumulative incidents are of this nature.
150
>-100
0
u: 50
0
90 91 92 93 9-4 95 96 97
Figure 9. Rescue Movement Incidents. DATE
Figure 10 shows the pattern for Radical Environmental groups across the time
period. This group shows a downward trend early on, with a rise over the second half
of the time period and a steep drop-off in 1997. Figure 11 shows the Radical
Environmentalist violence in more detail. The large spike in incidents in late 1996 and
drop-off in 1997 is explained by the actions of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). The
ELF began their actions in late 1996, and continued into 1997, but began to engage
in incidents that were classified as Animal Rights incidents.
>,, 0 C
15
10
u. 5
0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97
DATE
Figure 10. Radical Environmental Incidents.
85
10
5 5 ::, 5
11
0
1/1/90 5116191 9/'27/92 219i94 6124195 11/5196 3/20/98
DATE
Figure 11. Radical Environmental Detailed Incidents.
Animal Rights groups are shown in Figure 12. This group has the most
identifiable pattern. They show a steady increase across the time period (with the
1995-drop explained earlier). In fact 58 percent of Animal Rights violence occurs in
1996 and 1997. One possible explanation for this increase that needs to be examined
is the increase of violence associated with the Straightedge punk youth movement.22
This movement may be a unique age-specific apocalyptic movement.
300
200
100
0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97
DATE
Figure 12. Animal Rights Incidents.
86
Some of these patterns of violence have been explained above (e.g.,
Coronado's arrest, FACE, ELF move to Animal Rights). One explanations for the
increase in Animal Rights incidents include an increase in reporting of incidents to the
ALFIS website. The RICO lawsuit of NOW v. Scheidler, or the manhunt for Eric
Rudolph possibly contributing to the decrease from 1997 to 1998 discussed above.
David Bromley (1997) offers an alternative explanation for the Rescue Movement's
decrease, and possible future decreases for other groups.
Bromley ( 1997) sees apocalypticism as a "radical form of organization."
Apocalypticism is "a moment in a group's history rather than a stable, long-term form
of organization" (1997, 42). The apocalypticism of the movement may well have
been temporary considering that the Rescue Movement is one of the longer lived of
the groups examined in terms of violent histories. If we assume that the
apocalypticism of the Rescue Movement is related to its violence, the move away
from apocalypticism, as an organizing principle, may be why there is a decrease in
violence occurring. The relatively new move to violence of Radical Environmental
and Animal Rights groups allow for one to look to see if Bromley's hypothesis works
for "secular" apocalyptics. The Militia/Patriot movement may also support this
hypothesis, it is to soon to tell now.
Militia/Patriot Violence
The Militia/Patriot movement, despite popular opinion, is involved in a
comparatively small number of violent incidents as reflected in Table 10. As was
discussed earlier the trend in Militia/Patriot violence has increased since the
Oklahoma City bombing. This trend is shown in Figure 13 for the time frame
1990-1997.
87
Table 10
Incidents of Violence by Year for Militia/Patriot Groups
Homicides/ Bombings/ Assault Arson Weapons Theft Vandalism Total Attemets Attemets Charges
1992 I I - - - - - - I
(100.0, 6.7) (1.5)
1993 I I - - - - - - I
(100.0, 6.7) (1.5)
1994 I 2 - I - I - ·- 4 (50.0, 13.3) (25.0, 14.3) (25.0, 3.5) (5.8)
1995 I 7 4 2 - 5 I - 19
(36.8, 46. 7) (21.1, 30.8) (10.5, 28.6) (26.3, 17.2) (5.3, 33.3) (27.6)
1996 I - - 4 - 13 1 - 18
(22.2, 57.1) (72.2, 44.8) (5.6, 33.3) (26.1)
1997 I 4 9 - 1 10 1 I 26
(15.4, 26.7) (34.6, 69.2) (3.9, 100.0) (38.5, 34.5) (3.9, 33.3) (3.9, 100.0) (37.7)
Total I 15 13 7 1 29 3 1 69
(21.7) (18.8) (10.1) (1.45) (42.0) (4.35) (1.45)
Note: Percentages are represented in parentheses. The first number represents percentage of the total incidents committed that year were of this nature. The second number represents the percentage of the incidents of this nature committed during that year. For the totals of the year (last column) the percentage represents percentage of total incidents occurred that year compared to the cumulative number. For the totals of the incidents (last row) the percentage represents percentage of cumulative incidents are of this nature.
00 00
>, 0
C Q) :, er
20
� 10 LL.
0
92 93 94
Figure 13. Militia/Patriot Incidents.
95 96 97
DATE
What is not reflected in Table 10 and Figure 13 is that the increase in
incidents of violence has occurred because of a concerted effort on law enforcement
targeting these groups. Many of these incidents are actually incidents in which
violence was prevented by law enforcement, as we will point out below. These
incidents are included because they are what the FBI refers to as a "prevention" of
domestic terrorism (Terrorism in the United States 1996). While this work seeks to
go beyond the FBI (and Smith's work) it does not seek to exclude these incidents.
What is reflected in Table 10 is that these groups are particularly violent when
they plan or engage in actions. Table 10 shows the three highest incidents of violence
are homicides/attempts, bombings/attempts, and weapons charges. Unlike the Radical
Environmental and Animal Rights groups, Militia/Patriot are less concerned with the
possible loss of human life. The potential for violence is also reflected in the numbers
of weapons charges attributed to the Militia/Patriot movement. Forty-two percent of
the Militia/Patriot movement's incidents involve weapons charges, and 97 percent of
the weapons charges are attributed to the Militia/Patriot groups.
89
It is within these weapons charges that we find the potential for, but lack of
completion of, violence. Of the 29 weapons charges, 25 occurred after the Oklahoma
City bombing. Of those 25, 10 involved possession of explosives. Anything from pipe
bombs, grenades, fuel and fertilizer were found, sometimes with plans for use on
governmental buildings or other locations. This potential need not be minimized just
because the Militia/Patriot movement lacks the quantity of incidents. This group is
the most violent of the groups examined in terms of the potential for loss of human
life. Looking back at Table 4 we see over 50 percent of the homicide/attempts
attributed to the Militia/Patriot movement, nearly twice as much as the second
highest group, Rescue Movement. The Militia/Patriot groups are second in
bombings/attempts (tied with Rescue Movement) behind the Animal Rights groups.
This statistic is misleading when we consider that several more incidents of potential
bombings (reflected in weapons charges) were avoided due to law enforcement
intervention, and the late start in the decade of Militia/Patriot incidents.
Overview of End-Times and Anti-Industrial Groups
Due to the lack of any significant amount of data for End-Times groups we
shall briefly discuss them here. Despite the lack of the quantity of violence for End
Times groups, the spectacular nature of the violence at Waco shows the potential of
violence capable of these groups that are convinced and prepared for an apocalyptic
event. Looking at the People's Temple (Hall 1995� Wessinger 1998), Solar Temple
(Hall and Schuyler 1997), Aum Shinrikyo (M. Mullins 1997) and Heaven's Gate
(Abanes 1998) show that when these groups do engage in violence they do not hold
back. It is the past acts of violence that causes concern for this group's potential and
the focus of the media, government and academia.
90
This was evident in the recent events surrounding the Concerned Christians
cult, which was deported from Israel for plotting violence to bring about the second
coming of Jesus.23
The reason for the violence seen in Waco should be seen in the
light of the imminence of the apocalypse seen by the group. Much as with the Rescue
Movement's focus on the imminent death of the child, the Animal Rights focus on the
imminent death of the animal, the Branch Davidians saw the attack on them, by the
BATF, as fulfilling the signs of the coming apocalypse (as seen in Chapter ill). It is
the imminence of the apocalypse that may have much to do with the violence of the
groups examined. This will be further discussed at the end of this chapter. Regardless
of this the End-Times groups do not display as violent a tendency as the next group
we will look at, the Militia/Patriot groups.
During the time period under examination the Unabomber engaged in four
bombings that resulted in the deaths of two individuals. The targets of these
bombings were a geneticist, a computer scientist, an advertising executive
( supposedly tied to the Exxon Valdez oil spill) and the president of a timber
association. The last two of these incidents resulted in fatalities. The Unabomber
represented a particularly deadly form of apocalyptic violence in that he intended to
start the decline of industrial society so that human civilization could be rebuilt
without the restraints of technology. This one man represented 8 percent of the total
bombings examined in this paper.
These data allow us to answer the research questions addressed in Chapter I.
Does the frequency and types of incidents relate to the typology? Is there any pattern
to the frequency of incidents over the time period examined? Is there a relation
between population of state and frequency of incidents? The results also allow the
identification of the variable of imminence as a possible key to determining violence.
91
The validity of the typology in determining violence is answered above, but its
effectiveness in distinguishing between the ideologies of the groups can be
determined from Chapter III. It also provides further avenues to examine the reasons
behind the violence related to these groups and other apocalyptic groups.
92
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
Results for Research Questions
From the data one is able to learn more about the differences and similarities
of violence related to these groups. The results of this data analysis provide the
answers to the research questions and also form the basis for further research on
these groups. The first research question was: Does the type of apocalypse (from the
typology) co"elate with the frequency of violence? The answer to this is that the two
extremes of the typology (Rescue Movement and Animal Rights) are the most
violent. There is not one identifiable type of apocalypse that can be used to predict
violence but the extremes are involved in the highest frequencies of violence.
The next research question was: Does the type of apocalypse co"elate with
the same types of violence? There is no direct correlation between the type of
apocalypse and type of violence used. What is seen is that the most violent groups
(Rescue Movement, Radical Environmental, and Animal Rights) engage mostly in
property crimes (theft, arson, and vandalism). Next was a question regarding any
increases or decreases in the frequency of incidents for any of these groups. The
Rescue Movement shows a downward trend with an increase in 1997. The
Militia/Patriot and Animal Rights groups show an increase during this time period.
The Radical Environmental movement does not display any pattern except that 1997
shows a dramatic drop in incidents. The last research question was: Is there any
93
relation between the population of the state and the frequency of violence? There is
a strong correlation between population and frequency of violence. These results
allow for an evaluation of the typology's effectiveness in predicting violent behavior.
The results of this work show that the typology, in its current form, is not
effective, as a possible variable, for use in predicting violence. The results show that
population of state appears to be a variable worth pursuing further. There is another
variable that could be placed in a predictive model for apocalyptic groups. This
variable was discussed briefly above with the Rescue Movement, End-Times, and
Animal Rights groups. This variable is the concept of imminence.
Importance of Imminence on Violence
Imminence of attainment (Taylor 1991) or salvation (Cohn 1970) as we saw
in Chapter II was essential to a millenarian/apocalyptic engaging in violence. Rather
than the imminence of the salvation the imminence of the apocalypse may be more
important for determining violence. We see this imminence of the apocalypse in the
three groups tagged as having this imminence quality (Rescue Movement, Branch
Davidians, and Animal Rights). The Rescue Movement to some extent focuses on the
fetuses that are about to be aborted. We saw this in Chapter II when Kaplan ( 1996b)
discussed the identification with the babies by some of the rescuers in a resort to
force. The focus on preventing the killing of babies is where imminence comes in for
this group. Those in the Rescue Movement know that "x" number of babies will be
killed on a certain day. The knowledge that the apocalyptic act will occur for certain
and can be prevented by direct action leads to violence for this group. This differs
from some other groups that say ifwe continue on this path we will "incur the wrath
of God," experience a "biological meltdown," or be taken over by a "one world
94
government." These apocalyptic events may or may not have dates on them but they
all have signs leading up to them. The abortion appointment is "set in stone" so to
speak as the apocalyptic date for that baby, providing the impetus for the Rescue
Movement. This is similar to the imminence of the Animal Rights groups.
Animal Rights groups know, with a little less certainty as to specifics, that the
animals on the fur farm will die during the pelt season or that the research animal will
undergo some "inhumane" test soon. This knowledge lends itself to the imminence
influence on the need to engage in violence. Radical Environmental groups may
experience this by knowing that an area of a forest is to be cut down on a certain
date. Yet they do not have the same number of violent incidents as the Animal Rights
groups. This is possibly due to the access to the locations of the apocalypse. The
middle of a forest is a little more difficult to get to than a research lab or fur farm.
The area of the forest being so large that it is difficult to have the same impact that
the Animal Rights groups are able to have by access. Another possible explanation is
that the "life" being threatened is not really a "life," despite environmentalists'
biocentric thinking, in the same terms as human or animal. It may very well be a
combination of the two, which lead to the enormous gulf in terms of quantity of
incidents by these groups. In the case of the Animal Rights groups, imminence does
appear to be a factor in the violence attributed to these groups.
Imminence plays a factor in the incident involving the Branch Davidians. We
know from the discussion in Chapter III that the Branch Davidians saw the BATF as
the opening of the Fifth Seal (Thompson 1996) and the FBI raid related to the
opening of the Sixth Seal (Kopel and Blackman 1997). The fulfillment of these seals
involves the killing of the remaining members of Mount Carmel. Because the actions
of the BA TF fulfill Koresh' s time line, starting in 1985 with the end-times coming 10
95
years later, the faithful knew the apocalypse was imminent. The forewarning of the
raid allowed for the Davidians to prepare, knowing that the seals were being opened,
and caused the episode to possibly become more dangerous than it should have been.
What we have for these three groups is the knowledge of the time of the
apocalyptic event(s) and allows for them to engage in violent actions to attempt to
prevent them from occurring. Any predictive model attempted for apocalyptic groups
would have to involve an imminence variable. Imminence does not necessarily lead to
violence from the apocalyptic group. This was witnessed in 1998 with the Chen Tao
cult. This cult believed that God would land in Garland, Texas, in a UFO on March
31 and take the faithful to heaven. This did not result in any violence before or after
the date. There are other variables that would need to be considered in any predictive
apocalyptic model. This is beyond the scope of this paper, but it is necessary to point
out that imminence, as part of any model, would appear to be strongly supported by
the results of the data presented.
It is important to note that the concept of imminence as important to
determining violence may be bolstered by the inclusion of racist/anti-Semitic groups
in an examination of violence of all apocalyptic groups. If the perception is that the
Race War is in progress now with the battle against ZOG, than the idea of the
imminence of the apocalypse leading to violence may be further supported. The
inclusion of these groups may also add to the strength of the typology.
Future Research and Broader Implications
Future research requires examining the possibility that other apocalyptic
groups may strengthen the typology as it currently exists. The data show that one
type of apocalypse is not "more" violent than any another type. This makes the
96
typology as a predictive model less than desirable. As Catherine Wessinger rightly
states, "Obviously typologies are useful only to the extent that they accurately reflect
and order the data" (1997, 56). The typology works better in ordering the ideological
makeup of the groups, but not as well with the data on violence. The difficulty in
ordering the ideology of the groups is the problem of cross-typing, as I call it. This is
the most difficult problem to overcome. The instances outlined in Chapter III of
beliefs of one group moving between two different types show how this occurs. The
problem of the Militia/Patriot groups moving between the "secular" and the
"religious" (Barkun 1996b; Lamy 1997), the Unabomber's arguable move from
concerns over the environment (Natural) to stated concerns about human freedom,
and the pluralism (supernatural, natural and unnatural) of Radical Environmentalism
(Taylor 1999) are examples of this. The typology may serve to distinguish between
groups in regards to their primary, but not exclusive, apocalypse.
The typology is weak in regards to its usefulness as an identifier for violent
tendencies of apocalyptic groups. The two extremes are the most violent, but the
Militia/Patriot group's violence in the "middle" of the continuum (Figure 2) does not
allow for the generalization that the extremes will always be the most violent. If the
racist/anti-Semitic groups were included it is likely they would fall along the same
section of the continuum as the Militia/Patriot groups. The apparent high levels of
violence attributable to the racist groups would give the continuum a different
pattern. The continuum would see high levels of violence not only at the two
extremes, but also in the middle. Each of the three sections of the typology
(Supernatural, Unnatural, Natural) would have one of its respective groups with high
levels of violence (Rescue Movement, Racist/Anti-Semitic, and Animal Rights). This
requires further research that may help to strengthen the typology.
97
This paper shows that it is possible and productive to look at the apocalyptic
beliefs of a wide range of groups. The call for an examination of similarities of these
groups from Kaplan (1996a), while not the focus of this paper, was touched upon.
The violence of the Rescue Movement, Animal Rights groups and the Branch
Davidians, show that future examination of the imminence of the apocalypse, in
determining violence, may prove fruitful. The patterns of violence in the Animal
Rights groups and Rescue Movement require that further examination is required to
determine if the respective increase/decrease continues. The implications of the
millennial year 2000 and the unrelated Y2K computer problem also may prove to be
important factors requiring further research.
This paper provides an expansion of the approach to apocalyptic studies.
While relying on some textual analysis of these groups to provide the basis for the
creation of a typology, its most important contribution is the use of data analysis to
understand these groups. Much of the work on apocalyptic groups concentrates on
the historical aspects of that particular group (Barkun 1997a; Lee 1995). 'Fhe work
done to compare groups has focused on the aspects that they have in common that
lead to or prevent violence (Kaplan 1997b; Taylor 1991; Taylor 1999). This paper is
an attempt to do both, but rather than a textual analysis to compare the groups
directly, incidents of violence was used. This paper will hopefully show that it is
possible to use data analysis to look at apocalyptic groups and their actions. Just as
political science underwent its struggle to move from "traditional" political theory to
a more empirical approach, it is possible that apocalyptic studies can do the same.
This research can easily be used to support the approach to conflict of game
theory. More specifically the zero-sum game approach of conflict. The Manichaen
nature of most of these groups lends to the creation of zero sum situations, real or
98
perceived. Bron Taylor (I 999) argues that Radical Environmentalism's anti-dualistic
nature does not lead it to demonize its opponents. He is correct in that this
demonizing does not occur as it does for the other groups. This does not mean that
Radical Environmentalism is not subject to violent conflict due to the perception of a
zero-sum game. As was discussed in Chapter III, this group is convinced that any
advance in "industrial and agricultural development" (Manes 1990, 25) is leading to
decrease in habitats for animals. This belief that any advance in technology/industry is
a loss for the environment is the basis for a zero-sum game. This supports the game
theory approach to conflict, when applied to these particular political groups.
This paper provides a push for political science to examine its "exotic fringe."
There is potential for political scientists to examine these groups in a systematic way.
The actions of these groups are not to be taken lightly. The potential of violence to
occur from the apocalyptic interpretations of legislative, law enforcement, or social
actions requires care when determining such actions. This is seen in the approach to
the Freemen standoff (Wessinger 1998) when compared to Waco only four years
earlier. The FBI has actively tried to engage Militia/Patriot groups to avoid any
misinterpretations of their actions (Duffy and Brantley 1997). The same should be
considered by legislators when they debate laws related to National ID, the United
Nations, foreign troops in the US, animal research, abortion laws, logging on public
lands, and domestic terrorism laws. These laws are often interpreted as increasing the
move towards a one-world government (national ID, Brady Bill), or working to
destroy the environment for financial gain (logging on public lands).
This paper also shows the value of a broader approach to violence than that
ofL. Brent Smith. A more detailed examination of what types of violence can be
attributed to groups allows us to see the scope of the problem and the effect it can
99
have across the nation. Not relying on what the federal government determines is
domestic terrorism allows us to look at a broader range of actions of these groups.
While the inclusion of vandalism as violent is arguable, the fact that this vandalism is
done as a result of the perpetrator's political/apocalyptic beliefs made it necessary to
include vandalism. The vandalism of these groups is an.attempt, in a minor but
cumulative manner, to change society to prevent their respective apocalypse. The
Rescue Movement does it to drive abortion clinics out of business. Animal Rights
groups engage in it for the same reasons. While not intended to violently cause harm
to individuals these actions are a fundamental part of these two groups' attempts to
stop what they each see as a modem Holocaust.
Political scientists need not only concern themselves with these groups' focus
on power (Daniels 1999) or on their monistic/dualistic opposition to a pluralistic
world (Flanagan 1996). That these groups are working to change society outside of
the policy process holds future implications for the study of politics (Dalton et al.
1990). Particularly as was noted in Dalton et al., these groups can achieve change in
a short period of time. The ability to change social values may eventually have an
impact on the mainstream of society.
100
NOTES
1 A cursory examination of the news stories surrounding the episodes listed in
the first paragraph of this paper shows this. For the Oklahoma City Bombing the SPLC, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Jewish Committee and Montana Human Right Network were relied on as experts. The Slepian murder had groups such as National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League (NARAL), National Abortion Federation (NAF) and Planned Parenthood providing information. The ELF attack had Ron Arnold of the CDFE and Barry Clausen throughout the media as experts on environmental groups.
2 The "Eco-Fucker Hit List" was in the premiere issue of Live Wild or Die. It
contained information that suggested that Burson-Marsteller, where Thomas Mosser worked, helped Exxon with its image after the Valdez disaster (Arnold 1997). The list also had the Timber Association of California on it, name later changed to California Forestry Association, where Gil Murray worked. Live Wild or Die can be subscribed to by writing to the same address as the Earth First! Journal. Earth First! P.O. Box 1415, Eugene, OR 97440.
3 Kaplan (1996b) identifies Joan Andrews unplugging of a suction machine
from the wall during a rescue ( occupation of a clinic) as the innocuous beginning of the move towards destruction of property. Kaplan notes that the heavy legal price paid for this small act reinforced the manichaen beliefs of the Rescue Movement. This made further and more damaging acts easier because the consequence for these acts could be no worse than that for the simple unplugging of a machine.
4 Don Anderson initially claimed that the Army of God was responsible for
this kidnapping.
5 Michael Bray, in 1984, bombed a clinic in Norfolk, Virginia. At the site he
left a sign with the letters "AOG" on it.
6 Neal Horsley operates the Internet site Christian Gallery. This quote taken
from Horsley's writing on "Dometic Terrorism Today" located at http://www.christiangallery.com/terror.html.
This website was recently featured in the media as a result of the Slepian murder. One of the sections of the site, titled The Nuremberg Files, keeps the names of abortionists, supporters, workers, escorts and others related to the "pro-choice" aspect of the issue. On this list are names that are struck through, indicating dead or "greyed" indicating a wounding. The purpose is to gather names so that when abortion is treated as the "war crime" some see it as, these individuals can be brought to justice, like Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg after WWII. Kaplan (1996) discusses this identification with what happened to the Jews under Nazi control and what is happening to children under abortion.
101
7 In 1917 the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to three children in Fatima,Portugal. She gave three secrets to them. As revealed by one of the three children, the first and second secrets involve a vision of hell and a request that Russia be consecrated to the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Heart (Cuneo 1997, 180). The third secret was only revealed to the Pope and has yet been revealed publicly. It apparently involves a horrific catastrophe of some sort. Father Malachi Martin, claiming he has seen the third secret, has appeared on the radio program Coast to Coast with Art Bellrefusing to reveal the Third Secret but identifying it as a horrific disaster (Writer's memory of listening to broadcast, date unknown).
8 One particularly good place to find the views of Militia/Patriotmembers/sympathizers is at FreeRepublic.com (http://www.freerepublic.com). FreeRepublic is a conservative Internet forum site in which members post news articles or personal letters and essays, and respond with their own thoughts on the initial posting. On this site are three separate topics on the National ID system as well as two dedicated to the New World Order in general. Although many on this site shun or vehemently disagree with the conspiracy theories set forth, there are a identifiable group of individuals who post on this subject and respond. This author assumes, after reading hundreds of postings and corresponding over FreeRepublic with these individuals, that there are Militia/Patriot sympathizers, if not members, posting on this subject and others. Some proudly boast of being Patriots and support the Militias wholeheartedly.
9 Again FreeRepublic.com is a good reference involving reports of Chineseinfluence and even of reports of Chinese military in the United States. Posts such as China's Peoples Liberation Army Troops Join U.S. Forces for Military Drills from the Agence France Presse, located at http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/ a366814b246ab.htm (1998) provide fire to these beliefs. Also see JeffHead's website, at http://www.nebonet.com/headhome/dadmisc/liberty.htm for information regarding reports of other foreign troops on United States soil.
10 Patrick May, "Militia Movement Alive and Extreme as Ever." KnightRider Newspapers, 08 August 1998.
11 One particularly interesting part of the "detention center" belief, as well asthe foreign troops belief, involves the use of "highway code markers" on the back of highway signs. Linda Thompson discusses these stickers in her video America UnderSiege and how they are used for troop movement directions. The author lives about 100 yards away from one of these signs with a blue sticker on the back of it. According to a photocopy handout given to author by a supporter, this blue sticker represents "death" as in "code blue" in a hospital means death. It also points out that they are found near schools, one of which is directly behind the author's backyard. The handout states the schools may be used as "temporary holding facilities for condemned subjects."
12 A particularly useful article regarding FEMA and the use of ExecutiveOrders can be found on FreeRepublic.com at http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/ a364bffc03722.htm. A listing of Executive Orders is given and what they mean.
102
13 For this thesis, Theodore Kaczynski, the confessed Unabomber, will bereferred to as the Unabomber. This is done because of some of the controversy regarding Mr. Kaczynski's mental state at the time he was active as the Unabomber. By examining the Unabomber as an "ideology" rather than an individual enables allows for the apocalyptic worldview of his writings to be examined. As Bron Taylor writes, "Kaczynski almost certainly is mentally ill . . . Yet he articulates a complex worldview and social critique that includes thoughtful analyses . . . about how toovertum the industrial technocracy" (Taylor 1999, 32-33).
14 The power process is defined by the Unabo�ber in paragraph 33 and hasfour elements to it: "goal, effort and attainment of goal .. . The fourth element is more difficult to define and may not be necessary for everyone. We call it autonomy'' (1995).
15 Dave Foreman, memorandum regarding Earth First Statement of Principlesand Membership Brochure, Sept 1, 1980, 1. Reprinted in Lee (1995).
16 Taken from the Animal Liberation Frontline Information Service postingon ALF guidelines at http://www.animal-liberation.net/about/media/alfhtml.
17 ALF communique dated October 5, 1997 taken from posting at AnimalLiberation Frontline Information Service at http://www.animal-liberation.net/news/ 97 /971005c2.html.
18 ALF communique dated November 8, 1997 taken from posting at AnimalLiberation Frontline Information Service at http://www.animal-liberation.net/news/ 97/971108cl.html.
19 Justice Department communique dated November 23, 1997 taken fromposting at Animal Liberation Frontline Information Service at http://www.animalliberation.net/news/97 /971123 c 1. html.
20 ALF communique dated October 26, 1995 taken from posting at AnimalLiberation Frontline Information Service at http://www.animal-liberation.net/news/ 95/951 lOOcl.html.
21 NAF data was obtained from their website located at http://www.prochoice. org.
22 This was recently examined on the TV show America's Most Wanted,aired on February 6, 1999. This program identified two Straightedge youth, one wanted for murder and one for an animal liberation at a fur farm.
23 Reuters. "Israel Deports Doomsday Cult Members to the U.S.," Reuters, 10 January 1999.
103
1. Animal Rights Groups: Individuals who have one or more of the following
characteristics: strict vegan lifestyle, belief in no harm to be done to any creature for
any purpose, belief that all animals should be allowed to live where they desire.
2. Anti-Industrial/Technology: Individuals such as the Unabomber who have
disdain for the industrial/technological system of the United States. These individuals
often prefer a form of Socialism or Anarchy to the current economic state.
3. Radical Environmental Groups: Similar to Animal Rights Groups in that
the Earth is often considered a living creature. These individuals see man and
technology as harming or injuring the Earth. These individuals often fight against
logging and road building.
4. Militia/Patriot Groups: These are individuals that see themselves as the
sole protectors of the Constitution. They often liken themselves to the minutemen or
founding fathers. Members often see the current government as going beyond what
was intended by the Constitution.
5. End-times Religious Groups: See signs of the times pointing to a return to
Earth of Jesus Christ as prophesied in Revelation. These individuals see the work of
the Anti-Christ all around them pointing to the one-world government of the UN and
secretive groups such as the Bilderbergers and the Trilateral Commission. These
individuals often feel they need to prepare themselves for the tribulation if they are
not the few involved in the Rapture of those called to heaven.
6. Rescue Movement: These individuals strongly disagree with the practice of
abortion. Often religious in nature these individuals will see the taking of innocent
lives as justification for taking the lives of those associated with these facilities.
105
1. Bombing: Use of any "explosive," "blasting agent," or "detonator" against
a building, person or property (Federal Explosives Law 1970).
2. Homicide: Willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another
(FBI 1996).
3. Assault: Unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of
inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury (FBI 1996).
4. Theft: Includes Burglary, unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony
or theft (FBI 1996); and Robbery, taking or attempting to take anything of value
from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force
or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear (FBI 1996).
5. Arson: Willful or malicious burning or attempt to bum, with or without
intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public housing, motor vehicle or aircraft,
personal property of another, etc. (FBI 1996).
6. Vandalism: Willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or
defacement of any public or private property, real or personal, without consent of the
owner or persons having custody or control (FBI 1996).
1. Firearms charges: Violations of regulations or statutes controlling the
carrying, using possessing, furnishing, and manufacturing of deadly weapons or
silencers. This includes possession of explosives.
107
1. The well-being and flourishing of human and non-human life on Earth have
value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value, inherent worth). These values are
independent of the usefulness of the non-human world for human purposes.
2. Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these
values and are also values in themselves.
3. Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy
vital needs.
4. The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantially
smaller human population. The flourishing of non-human life requires a smaller
human population.
5. Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and
the situation is rapidly worsening.
6. Policies must therefore be changed. These policies affect basic economic,
technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply
different from the present.
7. The ideological change will be mainly that of appreciating life quality
( dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly
higher -standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference
between bigness and greatness.
8. Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or
indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes (Naess 1995, 68).
109
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